Breaded BBQ Chicken

Mmmm...

Running around tonight trying to figure out dinner I was really stressing on what to make. So sick of the same ole', same ole'. I had chicken thawed but just nothing was sounding good. So I went diggin' in the cupboard and we came up with this "Breaded BBQ Chicken"....let me warn you...just go ahead and put the elastic pants on before you dig in...

Ladies & Gentlemen...

                           

 

Today I have began doing a little work on the digital art that I plan on using in my children's bedroom. They both share their room. Which is actually a big obstacle when you have a very girly girl, and a little boy who is all dirt and trucks! So, I had decided that this room will be little mix for them both quite the task I know! So, in my excitement of finally figuring out my plan here is a sneak for everyone and a little printable something as well for your little ladies and gents!

To save the image, click on it, then right click on the image, and select "Save As". Image can be printed off as large as 20x30 (poster size) or click the link to our flickr and download the images there! Let me know if there are any issues! Thanks so much!

Pin Inspired- "Growth Chart Ruler"

A little sneak of what I have been up to lately! If anyone knows me, they know I'm a pin addicted! I am absolutely obsessed, with no shame about the amount of time I waste  use on pinterest. Well, with our living room redo, I have been putting some of those pins to the test and here is one of them that I actually made for a friends baby shower, and loved it SO much I decided that I need one for the living room as well.

The original idea for this project came from the blog Dear Lilly. She has some adorable tutorials and her house is just beautiful! The project if you haven't already guessed is the over-sized growth chart/ruler that she has hanging in her dining area. When I first saw the project I thought wow, this is just awesome! We rent the home we are in, and could never really do the mark your height thing and the paper charts never last throughout the years of use. So, this to me just seemed SO cleaver.

On that note, here is my version of this "Growth Chart Ruler" 

Sorry for nasty photo quality...it was a last minute snap!

This was so seriously easy to do! Find out how to make your own after the jump HERE!

Finally...

The Little's :) 

Haven't been updating as much here lately. Figured it was time to take a break from the busy and share the new around here!

     First, our little ones are just growing like weeds! G is now 3 (AND A HALF, don't ya forget it. lol), and L is gonna be 2 in just a month! Can not believe my BABY will be 2. They both sure keep me busy but never a dull moment and so totally fun!

     With them both finally reaching ages that they are not as reliant on Mommy, I have now had more free time to work on this old house of ours!!!!

Some things we have done....

1. Bright orange bathroom, is now a pretty place to go and do your business in. Long gone is the once knock ya on your bum color. (As much as I loved it.) Will share more, including photos, very soon once I can get them taken!
2. Front door- got a mini makeover this spring/summer. It was once a CREAM front door on a WHITE house. It was totally not attractive, so we spiced it up and gave it a little life by painting that sucker....YELLOW! Yes, I said YELLOW! So bright, cheery. I joke that my mailman probably always smiles once he walks up to my house! hahaha
   
   Now those probably seem like such simple projects. But for us these have been HUGE. lol Its finally taking this little house that had potential and giving it a little life! Our biggest project we just started was the living room.
   
   When we moved into this old house 3 years ago. It had some VERY disgusting carpet. G was still very little then and it made her so sick. Her sensitive allergies could not handle it. So we had to go through the house and tear out all the nasty carpet and upon doing so we found, the living room and kids room had HARD WOOD! So we began the living room journey there this weekend. Wow, everyone says doing floors is hard...that is an understatement.
   
   Much, much more to do in there yet! I can not wait to share with everyone its little transformation! Missed everyone! Time to go catch up!
   

What A Day...

Well, I decided today to work on a couple projects that I have been putting off for awhile...one because it was daunting...and well, the hype around it kinda made me a little nervous BUT now that its done I laugh at myself for waiting SO long. lol

The other project I did was something that I wanted to put together using left over scraps that I had here from old projects...wanna see what I made??................................

Alright, alright....here it is.....

Are ya ready??....

It's a collared shirt!!!

I call it his Las Vegas shirt! LOL

I have to admit I was really nervous about having to do a collar and all, but really, it wasn't hard as hard as I had worked it up to be! I took a collared shirt he already had that I wasn't crazy about, and I took it completely apart, and that was my pattern. Then I tweaked a few thing...I wanted the back of the shirt to have that western point....

So, I just cut and added that in, and I used this awesome favorite blogger of mine to help me walk back through putting it all back together, Mama Sew Crazy ! Now, I didn't follow her tutorial to the tee obviously because I was going for another style, BUT if your wanting to attempt that daunting collar shirt, you should TOTALLY check out her tutorial. It's easy to follow, and if you need a 3-6m pattern, she has it there to print right off! It was great!

And for my final project of the day....

Shabby Vintage Rag Skirt/Tutu! Super sweet, right??? It was a big hit for my 2 yr old, as you can see here..heehee! And SO easy to make!! I may write up a step by step tutorial but here is a tiny explanation.

Measure your little ones waist, cut your elastic to that measurement. Measure from the waist to where in the knee you want the skirt to fall. Cut out your fabric, lace, and tulle. Whatever it is your wanting to use on it. I have lace, tulle, and silk here. (you want your pieces 6in wide, and then take that second measurement and double it. Ex.- If the waist to knee measurement was 12in. then you need to cut your pieces to 12+12= 24in. Then I just wrapped and knotted it around the elastic, used some ribbon to lace around the top, and WA LAH! Shabby chic for my tiny tot!!! Heehee

Silly little girl! ;)

Knit Bow/ Bow Tie Tutorial

I am NO pro to knitting whatsoever! I just began knitting about 2 or 3 months ago!! But after so many scarfs...and dish towels...I have to say, I was wanting something more. lol But there really isn't much for us beginners. You go from simple to... PUT THOSE BIG GIRL PANTIES ON! hahaha And well...I'm just not ready for the big girl stuff. So, I came up with something I CAN do after playing with my yarn and what I do know. SO! Here is my tiny tutorial on a Knit Bow and Bow Tie. :) 

Creativity Meets Chaos

My absolute love for creation, man made or the beautiful wonders we see around us each day that God has given us, never cease to amaze me or teach me many different things. Some large lessons and some small.

My most recent realization was just how often chaos and creativity really come together and more then often make some of the most beautiful designs of art.

Just take a moment and look at the world around us, there are wars, crime, and even just simple nasty rainy days and yet in those same places, moments of time, and on that dark, cold and nasty day....still beautiful things coming from them....maybe it be something as simple as a kind deed or gesture from a stranger, or something as life changing as witnessing your child's birth, or maybe meeting that one person you go on to sharing that life with. Chaos really can be something beautiful!!

This past year I have dealt with more chaos than I have in probably all the years of my life. Not really many...21 to be exact but still...in the other 20 years of my life, I have been dealt some rather crazy stuff but this year has really dealt me more than I have ever, ever happened upon. Be it serious family health issues, family drama, money short falls, or just your run of the mill crappy day...I feel as though I have lived and learned a lot this year.

In all this crazy mess...in all this collective drama, mass problems, I still had my safe place though. My one home. And I watched as each time we dealt with another, what should be, damaging blow, make my family stronger....and dare I say it...happier. Some were painful lessons, some were rather beautiful...

My strong faith and love for God, has ultimately been what always keeps me going, and here lately, it has been what has helped me find the beauty in this crazy year. It helped me find the chaos and see the beauty surrounding it. Not dwelling on that crazy, maybe destructive chaos, but changing that chaos and confusion into something ideally beautiful.

After seeing, it all in this perspective it has really made my year feel...well, rather great! And on that note, has made me decide that I want to face this upcoming year with the same outlook. I feel as though I even want to incorporate it into my upcoming designs, style, and fashion. Reading this makes me feel sorta silly, but just look at the sort of beauty that can come from a mess....

Take for example this lamp on exhibit with the "House of Sweden" It's a traveling exhibit here in the US, that highlights the work of 17 designers from Sweden. This is one of their pieces. It holds that feeling of keeping together the chaos, and yet has that structure of of beauty. OR, OR...for the fashionista...or girl after my own heart...lover of shoes...check out these...

These are Valentino Lace Stiletto's! Absolutely Gorgeous!!! Taking something beautiful and chaotic in itself...LACE, then giving it it's own twist making something so delightful. This is what I want to strive for...maybe not as extreme or whimsical, but I'm looking for my chaos. I want to face it and make it... I want to have my chaos and creativity really come together and make some of the most beautiful designs of art from it... Are you with me? What is your inspiration for the upcoming year? Have you given it thought?