SMU Team Spirit Yarn Wreath

My nephew (husband's brother's son), who had the same kindergarten teacher that all 3 of my kids have had, started college at Southern Methodist University this fall!  He was one year old when I met my husband and now he's in college.  I can't believe it!  And what makes it even more exciting is that he is in the marching band there!  We got to see him march by last weekend but didn't have game tickets so we haven't gotten to see him perform yet.  I can't wait to!

This summer I started an SMU yarn wreath.  It took me FOREVER!!  I don't know why.  I'd work on it some and then start something else, and then work on it some more, and then start something else again.  I don't know why I couldn't keep focused on it!  It wasn't difficult in the least.  In fact, it was super easy!

I used Red Heart Team Spirit Yarn in red and blue for their team's colors.  I just wrapped and wrapped and wrapped around a Styrofoam wreath form.  Easy peasy because you don't have to judge if the colors are equal or not - the colors are already measured out so you just wrap with the red and after a while it turns to blue and then back to red...you get the picture.

I picked up some wooden letters and painted them white.  Voila!  Super easy!  We're ready for some Mustang Football...and the half time entertainment!

Labor Day Fun = Painting in My Bedroom

How is it that Labor Day is over?  The end of summer!  I have mixed feelings about it.  It sure was nice sleeping in every day and being super lazy over the summer.  On the other hand, you get to the point where it's nice to be back to routine and structure.  Now that I've gotten a little more used to having ALL of my babies in one place and my newly found freedom and alone time, I'm enjoying school being back in session.

We had a fun weekend.  We didn't do much - everyone seemed to want to stick close to home and be lazy.  Except for my poor hubby - I had him hard at work at several projects!  I even asked the kids if they wanted to go the pool yesterday for the last day and only one wanted to go!  That blew me away.  I think they were just glad to stay home after a long week of getting back to school!

So, while they did this in the front yard

I was making my hands look like this!

And there was actually much more paint on my hand that you couldn't see as well as my legs, arms and clothes!  Haha!  I wouldn't want it any other way!!

I worked on a lot of paint projects over the weekend.  None are done yet but you'll get a little sneak peek!  Take a look at some before's and during's and notice where I was doing all of this painting, glazing and waxing.

I have no idea why there is a pool noodle in my room!!

Yep -  my bedroom - while watching television in the air conditioning (I live in Texas - it's still in the 90's-100's here)!!!

I can't do that with ANY other paint, glaze or wax.  But you can with CeCe's Caldwells!  In fact, I was waxing a piece of furniture and my daughter walked in and said, "Oh my, it smells like oranges in here".  Yep!  The waxing cream smells like oranges!  Nice!!

In the coming weeks I'll be sharing the projects as I finish them.  A jewelry box, chair and mirror.  I can't wait to show them off!!  I'd better go and get to work on them!

A Whole New World

Yesterday was a BIG day for me!  My baby went to Kindergarten.  I've been through the first day of Kindergarten twice before but this one was completely different.  I had a very hard time when my first one went.  I cried and cried and cried!  I just didn't want her to go.  I knew I would miss her.  I knew our lives would never be the same.  I knew she'd start growing at hyper-speed once school started!

I was right!

When my second went, I was still sad about the fact that I would miss her.  I just wasn't as emotional.  I kind of felt guilty about that!

My third, and last, was HARD.  I was emotional like the other two, but way more nervous and uptight than with the girls.  Max has always had a hard time separating from me.  At preschool last year, the teachers would have to take him from me as he would cling to me and cry.  And I worked there!  So I was scared to death that I wouldn't be able to get him in the door!  He did great though.  No tears or fighting it but when I left him, he looked TERRIFIED.  He was pale and frozen still on the floor in front of the puzzle piece he was supposed to be coloring.  I almost grabbed him and ran out the door!!  That was the picture I carried in my head ALL DAY.  Even though I KNEW he would be fine...and he was...I just couldn't get that horrible picture of him sitting there so small and so scared out of my mind.

He, of course, did great.  His teacher said he talked to her...and then added ALL DAY - haha...and seemed to be really comfortable with everything.  Relief!!

Now I am getting used to my new world!  A world with lots of time alone!  It is amazing how different things are now!  Yesterday, when I was ready to leave for work, I just grabbed my purse and left.  I didn't have to give anyone notice or wait for anyone to put on shoes or make sure anyone went to the potty.  When I was done at work, I grabbed my purse again and just...left!  I've worked at my little preschool for 7 years and have always had one, two or three kids with me...and all of their stuff...and had to wait for them to come out of the classroom...and had to make the painfully slow walk down the hall...and stop to go to the potty...or come back in after we got all the way to the car with all of the stuff because someone needed to go potty or forgot their amazing artwork!! 

Today we walked to school and I walked back home...alone!!  It was so quiet and peaceful. I walked at the pace I wanted to walk.  I prayed.  I observed the world around me.

It's a whole new world!  And as nice as that is, it doesn't make me miss the kids being with me ONE BIT.

CeCe Caldwell Chalk and Clay Paint Review - Wall Decor

A few years ago I learned about chalk paint and absolutely loved the idea that I could paint without sanding and prep work. I also love how easy it is to distress as well as the waxing process which makes the pieces look even more aged.

I started out with Annie Sloan of course and enjoyed using it. But recently I started reading about CeCe Caldwell's Chalk and Clay Paint. There were several things that drew me to this line.

You still don't have to sand or prep. But CeCe's paint has NO VOC's - meaning no smell and none of those irritants that can cause people problems. CeCe's wax has none either - you can wax INSIDE your house with no smell and without having to worry about children being exposed or people having asthma etc. Another big seller to me is that you can wet distress with CeCe's paint. Meaning - I can take a wet wipe and distress the paint instead of having to sand and make a big mess. Again - love that I can paint and distress INSIDE my house instead of the garage which is unbearable in the hot Texas heat.

I also LOVE that CeCe's is an American company. All of the paints are named after American cities or states. Oh - and the colors are TO DIE FOR!!!

So, I tried it out and really enjoyed it! Enough that I decided to do my kitchen cabinets in it! Oh, did I mention that besides waxes, they carry a wonderful line of glazes and finishes? I can't wait until I finish the cabinets to show you!!

But in the meantime, my family arranged to give me a workshop for my 40th birthday present! My mother in law took care of the kids and my mom and I headed out to Savannah, TX to hang out with Donna from Doozie's Corner and learn how to use CeCe Caldwell's paints and wax.  We got to make a tray while we were there but I got home and didn't need a tray.  However, I did need a decoration over my newly painted Hoosier cabinet!  I added a painted "M" and hung it up!!

It is painted with Mesa Sunset and then I believe I used the clear glaze mixed with Virginia Chestnut. Then I waxed it with clear waxed until it shone!


I think it turned out so beautiful!!  I love seeing it hanging up over my amazing furniture piece!!

I encourage you to try CeCe Caldwell's paint if you haven't before.  There is a ton more about it that I love - I could go on and on!! Maybe I'll save a little more for another post though!! 

Sharing on several of the link parties found at the right of this blog as well as:

Dare to Share

Getting Set Up With Bloglovin

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Trying to figure out to do without Google Reader!  I know!  It's been a month since it went away - I'm a little slow!!  Oh well!! It's summer and we've been so busy. Isn't summer supposed to be slow? Waiting for that to happen. Anyway, finally trying to figure out what to do and ran across Bloglovin after trying a few others that I didn't LOVE! So, we'll see how this goes!

Antique Hoosier Cabinet / Furniture Re-Do Reveal

A while back ago my mom held an estate sale to empty the warehouse full of furniture and clothes and other items that they had been storing of my my grandparents.  I lost 2 of my grandparents last year, one almost 3 years ago now, and one when I was 8.  I have been so blessed to have 3 of my 4 grandparents in my life for so long!

I got a few items from the sale.  One took some "work", although to me it's F-U-N!!

It is an antique cabinet piece called a Hoosier.  They used to be used in kitchens as a sort of one stop shop place to store items as well as prepare them - making bread or pies etc.  Some are way more elaborate with flour sifters and such.  See the drawers on the bottom?  They are HUGE!  They would actually keep flour in them and tools.  Someone along the lines covered the bottom of the drawers with wood grain contact paper.  I removed it (you can see the difference in the picture above) and underneath was a really neat looking stainless steel. 

At some point my mom had stenciled some flowers along the drawers and doors at the top.  I decided it would look beautiful painted in turquoise and turned into a computer desk for our den! 

Back when I was painting this (several months ago - it took me a while to finish and then find hardware etc), I was using only Annie Sloan Chalk paints - I've since switched to CeCe Caldwell's and will talk about that in a later post.  So the paint I used is Annie Sloan Provence.  I distressed it using regular Min-wax and then Annie Sloan's dark wax. I also used a white on the inside of the cupboard - Annie Sloan's Vintage White.

I am just IN LOVE with the result!!!  

In my next post, I'll talk about that piece up above the Hoosier which was done with CeCe Caldwell's Chalk and Clay paints and finishes (except for the "M" which is still using the ASCP Provence).  I'll highlight some of the differences I've found and let you know which I prefer!

Pink and Gray Baby Shower

I have had so much fun the past few weeks making some fun crafts for my cousin's wife's baby shower.  The colors in her nursery are peach and gray.   I immediately knew I wanted to make a fabric rag garland that would be a decoration for the party as well as a gift for the nursery.  What I found out is that it's HARD to find peach!!  Luckily, some of the fabric in her crib bedding has a touch of actual pink so I felt that gave me license to use some pink.  I ended up finding a good mix!  She also has some brown in a rug so I added some brown in as well.  I used fabric, tulle, lace and ribbon to make the garland.  It turned out really cute I think! 

I also ended up making a yarn wrapped "H" with some felt flowers.  That was also a decoration/gift.  And she took home the pink and gray yarn pom pom balls that I had glued to sticks and put into flower pots. 

I was thrilled that she liked everything.  She is an interior decorator and I don't really know her taste that well so I wasn't sure she'd like any of it.  She gushed and gushed about the yarn wrapped "H" and said it was SO her style!  I can't wait to see pics of what she does with it all!!

There was one craft fail...of course.  Tissue paper pom pom balls.  I CANNOT MAKE THEM!!  I NEVER get them right!!  I found some adorable pink and white polka dot tissue paper and tried again.  And again, BIG FAIL.  A few turned out semi acceptable to I scattered them around but ended up throwing most of them away.

The other fail in this whole event - pictures.  I only got ONE!!  I kept trying to take them and someone would walk into the frame or ask me a question or somehow interrupt me from my goal!!  UGHHH!!!  So...here's my ONE picture.  Enjoy!!

The tin planter with the accordion scrapbook flowers is what we put the cake pops in.  That turned out so fun but, of course, I didn't get a picture with the cake pops all displayed.

We used a few of these printable for games/activities from I Heart Naptime.  We did the Mad Libs game, the nursery rhyme game and then people filled in the Wishes for Baby and momma was able to take those home to read. 

We had a great afternoon and momma went home with TONS of great outfits, baby necessities and two big gifts - her swing and her pack and play!!  I can't wait to meet her adorable baby girl in about a month!