*************Merry Christmas 2013!!

This year I wanted to do a themed card. I love our pretty family pics, but themed ones are so fun! The kids are obsessed with The Incredibles so we decided to put on some super suits and run around Mesa. Thank you to the man who pretended to text someone when he was actually taking our picture. Hey buddy, you might not want to laugh and stare while you're "texting." Oh and I highly recommend you park right in front of a wedding hall like we did. It gave the wedding guests something to stare at during the cocktail hour.  I cannot believe I got my husband to agree to this, but somehow I did. Anyway, the kids had a blast, we had a blast, and I LOVE the way they turn out. Kara May was our talented photographer! Christmas card and letter courtesy of Dean Works on etsy.com.

**************Got leftover Thanksgiving mashed potatoes?

If your house is like mine, you eat all the left over turkey within a day or two after Thanksgiving and then you are left with all these side dishes that get thrown out. My Grandma used to make this dish called "Super Supper." It is very kid and husband friendly!

You will need:

mashed potatoes 3-4 cups prepared

1 pound cooked ground beef

1 can of corn (or use leftover corn from the feast!)

1 can diced tomatoes (DON'T DRAIN)

1 T sauteed minced onion

1 tsp salt

1 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 cup shredded cheese

Mix together all ingredients except cheese. Put in 13 x 9 inch dish, cover with cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Enjoy!

****************FREE Elf on the Shelf Note

Here is your free Elf on the Shelf introductory note! I saw one on Pinterest/Etsy but it is $10. This is one I whipped up tonight. Leave this with your elf to start off the season and remind your kids to be good this year :). Right click "open in new tab" to print

Halloween Outdoor Curtains & Halloween Wreath

I am obsessed with outdoor curtains lately! I wanted some spooky striped Halloween curtains for my front porch. I was shopping for cheap fabric when I had an amazingly cheap idea! These curtains were only $8 to make! I bought 4 black rectangular table clothes and 4 white rectangular clothes. I stitched 2 black and 2 white together using my sewing machine (I am sure you can use glue as well if you do not sew). They look super cute without being super expensive, and since they are plastic, they can hold up against the rain. 

Here is the wreath I made to match my black, white, and orange Halloween color theme. I used tulle (2 spools each color) and the largest green wire wreath I could find. It is made by cutting 12 inch strips and tying them on with knots. I also used orange netting and a spider for the bow.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Coloring Pages

Happy October break! The kids and I are coloring today and I was sick of the coloring pages I found online because we colored the same ones last year. SO I attempted to draw my own! They are by no means a masterpiece, but we had fun with them.

Candy Gift Bouquet

One of my co-workers had a birthday recently and we all decided to chip in for a gift for her. A candy bouquet is a cute way to give candy and gift cards. I have seen some really creative and cute ones! We chose to use silk flowers and Werther's original candy.

 You will need:

Silk flowers (2-3 colors, different types)

coordinating feathers

candy of your choice

skinny wooden dowels (cake decorating isle or by the popsicle sticks)

hot glue gun

extra stems from the silk flowers

vase

vase filler (I used Easter grass)

ribbon

gift cards

wire cutters

 1. Fill your vase with the grass. Start adding in silk flowers randomly

 2. Take a flower off a stem or use a dowel and trim to the right height for your vase. Glue the gift card to the stem. Stick those in the back

 3. Glue your candy in a row on another extra stem or wooden dowel. Stick these in randomly in your vase

 4. Glue some feathers to the extra dowel and stick those in randomly. Tie a ribbon around your vase and you're done!

July 4th Yard Decor

Note to self: do not do this craft outside in July in Arizona. Besides my heat stroke, I had a fun time making this "dynamite" yard decor. Ever notice how outside decorations are so small (besides the big blow up figures)?? The scale of this project is quite large, so it will surely be noticed from people driving by!

You will need:

8 foot fence post from Home Depot (and a husband to cut it)

5 feet of thick rope (Home Depot)

Red, white, blue, brown, and clear spray paint

painter's tape or Cricut to create design

wood glue

a drill with 3" wood bit

3" screws

plywood

raffia or ribbon

1. Cut 8 foot post to 3.5, 2.5, and 2 feet sections. It would help if your husband could temporarily drill the posts upright into the plywood or else you will be holding them and trying to paint at the same time. 

 2. Figure out the design you want and start taping. I did stripes for one post, Chevron for another, and polka dot for the last. For the stripes, paint the whole thing white, tape with painter's tape, then paint with blue. For the Chevron, I painted the whole thing white. Then I cut out several zig zag strips (came with the cartridge that comes with the Cricut) and taped those to the post, then paint in between with red. For the polka dots, I painted the whole thing blue. Then I cut out a big circle and used the surrounding paper for my polka dot stencil. I free-handed a white border to make the red stand out against the blue.

3. Have your husband drill a 1-2 inch deep hole into the top of the posts. Squirt some wood glue in there and stick in your rope. I heavily frayed the ends of the rope that are hanging down to look like the dynamite is lit. 

4. Cut out a 2x2 foot plywood piece for the stand and paint it brown. Use 3 inch screws to screw them into the base from underneath. Tie some raffia or ribbon around them and you are done!

DIY Tall Shower Curtain

We have all seen tall shower curtains in model homes. I have been wanting to get one up in my guest bathroom, but I wanted it to be removeable, because I do like to change up my house ever so often. I decided to use a curtain rod and clips so that I can easily take down the curtain once I am sick of it, but the rod will remain. Everything was purchased at Ross, except the toggle bolts, which were from True Value.

You will need:

 

 -Curtain panel

-Curtain rod that you can adjust (rod that slides inot a rod with variable widths)

-Drapery clip rings

-Toggle bolts 1/8" x 4"

-Curtain hold bakc if desired

-Drill

 

 

 

 

1. Pull out half of your curtain rod. The half without the finial will be flush against the wall.



 2. These are the toggle bolts that you will use to attach your rod to the ceiling. Do not use the screws that come with the rod. The toggle will go inside the drywall and then flip oepn once inside, securing the rod from falling out or the screws from coming loose.

 3. Bend your curved portion that holds the rod so that it looks like a  scoop or an umbrella end.

 4. Drill in the bolts, put clips on rod, place your rod and secure. Clip on your curtain. I had my husband add a hold back on the wall so that I can swoop it over (I like the look). Plus I added a tassle.

 5. Voila!