Be a Better Me {January} Update

Honestly, I almost forgot about being a better me in January!  :)  It seems to have flown by and I'm sitting here wondering where the time went.  If I had made "true" resolutions, I would have epically failed.  However, I made a resolution to tackle being a healthier me, so let's see how poorly I did.  :)

Here is the list of things that I wanted to do this month:

• Set up doctors appointments (one for a physical, and one to see the dermatologist) - hmm, this is moved to the February TO DO list
• Eat out only once per week - haha!  Considering I was on the road for 6 days this month, that did not happen.  I didn't even try to be good.  Just keepin' it real. :)
• Cook and try new, healthy recipes  - I did cook quite a bit and tried new, healthy recipes. YAY!
• Snack on veggies - HA!
• Cut out caramel colored soda - I've cut back tremendously.  At most, I'll have one cola per day, and some days none. :)
• Walk or jog at least 3 times a week for at least 45 minutes - Again, moving this one to February.  I do have some new workout DVDs that I'm hoping to give a whirl and a new Wii game.
• Schedule a girl's night out - I did schedule a girl's night out that turned into a brunch...where I had to bring the monkey.  :)  I tried.
• Get a massage - I love February!
• Make time just for me to do what I want to do (read, craft, blog, take a warm bubble bath, etc.) - I have to admit this one was a toughy because January was super busy with my "real" job, but I did make time to take naps and read.  I finished two books! :)

All in all, I did okay.  I'm making baby steps strides to be a healthier and better me in 2011. :)  How are you all doing with your resolutions? 

Valentine's Messages {Printables}

Hello, Dear Friends!  I hope you had a super weekend!  :)  Can you believe that it was in the 70s in Houston this weekend?  The monkey and I took advantage of the beautiful weather by going on a nice, long nature walk...and when I say nature, I mean off roading in my neighborhood. :)

Well, I couldn't let you start February without these babies!!!  I hope you love them as much as I do!

I'm all about the "I love you to the moon and back" one for the kiddos...

...and the "Will you be my Valentine?  Check: yes or no" one for your sweetie! :)  I just love how it looks like it's on old, crumpled up piece of notebook paper.

If you would like to print these for your kiddos or sweetie, then click on the image, click again to open it in full resolution, and then right-click on the image.  Select Save Image As, print it, and then cut each message out so you can drop them into lunch bags for your kiddos or your sweetie's briefcase!  :)

So which one is your favorite(s)?  I'll be linking up to these super duper parties!

I hope your February is filled with love!

But the GREATEST of these is LOVE {printable}

I so LOVE Valentine's Day!  I love that the first two weeks of February are a reminder to all of us to show our friends and family how much we love and care for them.  I think in the midst of life, sometimes we forget.

I made this printable of one of my favorite verses.  What a fantastic reminder of how powerful LOVE is.

I made them in a few different color stories, so please print whichever one suits your decor (if you would like one in a different color, please leave a comment.  I'm happy to make it for you).  :)  Simply click on the image, click on it again so it displays it's full resolution, right-click and select save, and then print. :)

Wishing you more LOVE than you can measure!

I'll be linking up to these lovely parties!

Freezer Paper Stenciled Valentine's Day T-shirts

Hello and Happy Friday!  I cannot believe we are in our last weekend of January.  It just flew by and now we are heading into a month of red, pink, and love. :)

I really wanted to get the monkey a Valentine's Day t-shirt, but I had a hard time finding one for a boy.  They have tons of super cutie girlie stuff, but not a whole lot for little guys.  I decided to make my own. :)  Well, I couldn't make just one t-shirt, so I made one for each of the kiddos at Kason's daycare.

I think these are adorable and super affordable!  I got the t-shirts at Wal-Mart for $3.50.  I used my Sure Cuts a Lot software to design each of the emblems, and cut the freezer paper with my Cricut (you could also trace the design onto freezer paper and cut it out by hand like I did HERE). 

I first heard about freezer paper stenciling from Cheri at I am Momma - Hear Me Roar, and I always follow her easy tutorial HERE.

I used plain ole craft paint and mixed it with Delta Ceramcoat Textile Medium.  The textile medium turns any acrylic paint into a washable fabric paint.  How cool is that?

 

Here are the designs:

The heart breaker design is perfect for any little man in your life.

This is Kason's Love Rocks T...it matches his mailbox. :)

 I LOVE this peace and love T!  The L appears a little dark in the pic, but it is actually red.

I think the tic-tac-toe, hearts in a row T is too sweet. 

This one is by far my fav!  I love the color combo and the sweet, "hidden" message.  You know if you mouth the words olive juice it looks like you are saying I love you! :)

I think the kiddos are going to look adorable for Valentine's Day!  I can't wait to see pics of all of them in their t-shirts!

I love freezer paper stenciling!  It is super simple and pocketbook friendly. You could easily add a little Valentine's flair to your home by using the same technique for dish towels, place mats, napkins, or even on a canvas for some wall art!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! 

I'll be linking up to these wonderful parties!

Valentine's Day Mailboxes

Hi Friends!  I hope you all have been well!  I've missed you!  These past two weeks have been extremely busy at work, so I haven't had much time to create.  Now that things have died down a bit, I've had a chance to finish up this project that has been sitting half done on the shelf in my office. :)

This project has been on my TO DO list since last year!  I was inspired by Stephanie Lynn over at Under the Table and Dreaming.  She is always a source of inspiration for me, and this was too cute to pass up!  She made this Pottery Barn inspired version for her little boy. 

For this project, you will need:  a mailbox (small - Target $1.00 bin, large - Michael's), wooden candlesticks, round plaque for base, super glue, craft paint, paint brush, and embellishments (depending on the embellishment you use, you might also need Mod Podge and a foam brush).

I gathered some "prizes" for Kason's (a.k.a. The Monkey) mailbox.  I didn't spend a lot of money.  In fact one of the prizes is a Happy Meal toy from my lunch one day. :)  Other prizes include: crayons, socks, Little People figures, a silverware set, a stuffed monkey, and fruit snacks.

To get started, construct the bases by stacking and gluing the candlesticks on top of one another and then gluing to the round base.

Each base got a coat of white paint.

While the glue and the paint are drying, decorate the mailbox.  I used my Cricut and vinyl to create Kason's Love Rocks themed mailbox and Keith's binary code mailbox.

 Creating Valentine's Day things for a guy is a little challenging.  Even though Keith said I could cover his mailbox in hearts (so love him), I knew that I wouldn't be happy with it.  He is pretty technologically savvy, so I decided to go with I love you in binary code.  I cut it out on vinyl using my Cricut and changed out some of the zeros and ones for I "heart" U. :)

I Mod Podged some floral embellishments onto mine and all of the bases got dressed up with a little craft paint.

 

I love how each one reflects a little bit of our personalities and I can't wait to start filling these (and opening mine) on the 1st of February!

I love the little "rock hand sign" on Kason's!  Too cool!

Is love in the air around your home too?

I'll be showing these off at my favorite parties!

Sweetheart Wreath

Hello Dear Friends!  I hope all is well!  I'm sorry for my lack of posts this past week.  I have been traveling quite a bit for my "real world" job, and have had a hard time getting to the computer for my "fun" job. :)

Do you guys normally decorate for Valentine's Day?  I never have before, but I think it would be fun to have some sweet decor around the house to remind us all to give a little love.

I love those little conversation hearts and I love a good wreath, so I thought why not put these two loves together to create a new one. :)

I don't have a step-by-step tutorial for this one, but it was super duper easy to make.  I started with a round wreath form that was flat on all sides (round and flat?  LOL).  Then I wrapped the wreath in strips of pink tissue paper.  I hot glued on rows of Sweethearts on all sides and finished it off with a pink, satin ribbon.

I started gluing the hearts to the front first, then the inside, and finally the outside.  It took about four 7 oz. bags of conversation hearts and about an hour and a half to complete.  I just sat down in front of the TV and glued away.

I found that it was easiest to make one row of hearts all the way around the wreath, and then move on to the second and third rows (rather than gluing three across, then three below that row, and repeating the process all the way around the wreath).

I might have the sweetest wreath in town...literally! :)  ...and on a side note, I'm pretty sure I got about 437 cavities while completing this project. :)

I'll be linking up to these SWEET parties! :)

Guest Posting @ Hi Sugarplum!

Hello there!  Come check me out over at Hi Sugarplum! today!

I just love Cassie and her blog!  When I first discovered it, I read it all...the WHOLE thing!  :)  It's that good!  :)

 I'm also sharing a sweet, Valentine printable that you will only find over at Hi Sugarplum! :)

Please stop by and say hello to Cassie and me!  We would love it if you did!

Sutch an Inspiration

Hello Happy Friends!  I hope your week is going well!  :)  I've been a busy bee traveling for work and am a little late posting Sutch an Inspiration.  I do apologize, but you will not be disappointed by today's picks!  I'm loving all the little pops of red and pink in Blogland!  It means love is in the air and that always makes me happy!

I think it's obvious I was inspired by love and all things romantical this week. :)

I'm all swoony about these doily luminaries!  Crafts by Amanda shows how to make these simple and elegant jars with things most of us have around the house.  I bet they cast the most romantic shadows on wall.

Isn't this heart shaped notebook adorable?  Lucy from Craftberry Bush shares how she made it with a dollar store notebook!  Perfect for exchanging love notes with your sweetie!

I adore this smothered in kisses pillow made by Ameroonie!  Tons of  hearts are sewn to the pillow with little, tiny x's (kisses).

Kitty Cats and Airplanes made this Anthro-inspired lace bow.  So sweet and romantic!  Perfect for tucking into your hair for a night out with the hubs.

Bev over at Flamingo Toes shares how to make this P.S. ...i love you frame.  The notebook paper is made by sewing straight lines onto fabric and then she hand stitched the message.  So very clever!  P.S.  I LOVE it!

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Thank you so much for sharing these LOVEly ideas!  You all are SUTCH an inspiration! :)

Say it on the Wall Giveaway {WINNER}

Hello Everyone!  Drum roll please...

The winner of the Say it on the Wall

giveaway is:

Many congratulations to you, my dear!  Look for an email from me soon.  Thank you so much to everyone that entered and thank you so very much to Laura from Say it on the Wall!  :)

Burlap Puffed Heart Valentine

Can you believe that Valentine's Day is five, short weeks away?  Maybe a little early to decorate for Valentine's Day, but it's not too early to MAKE for Valentine's Day.  :)  I've never decorated for Valentine's Day before, but I've been thinking of a few things I would like to add around the house to make me feel all lovey dovey. :)

I started with this big, burlap puffed heart valentine for my front door.

It really was quite simple to make.  I was able to whip this up in two afternoons while the monkey was napping. :)  You will need:  red burlap, paper to make a template (tissue, newspaper, freezer paper, etc.), straight pins, chunky yarn, large eyed needle, plastic bags or fiberfill, hot glue gun and glue sticks, lace trim, ribbon, card stock, and letters for the message.

Begin by making a template for your heart.  I used tissue paper. Pin the template to the burlap.

Cut two hearts out of the burlap.

 Pin the two hearts together.  Stitch around the outside of the heart with the yarn.  I used a back stitch and left about a 1" border
. 

Leave a few inches open to "puff" the heart.

Stuff the heart with plastic bags or fiberfill and close the heart.

Hot glue two ribbons across the heart.  These will hold the message.

Hot glue the lace trim around the outside of the heart.  I found this trim at Hobby Lobby.  It has a nice, finished edge so I could glue right on top of the heart.

Add your message.  I decided on Welcome Love.  I cut triangles from card stock and the letters are glittered stickers in several different fonts.  The "O" in love is in the shape of a heart.  Take a look at the cute heart paper clip on the "O."  I learned how to make it over at How About Orange.  I'm not totally super duper wild about how the message turned out, but it will do for this year. :)

Hot glue ribbon to the back of the heart.

Hang on the front door and feel the love! :)

Have a wonderful week!  I'll be linking up to these super fantastic parties!