My Cardboard Crown

::: What I Wore Wednesday (and Thursday) :::

2012-02-01T09:58:00.000-08:00

Well, isn't this your lucky day!You clicked over to my blog hoping to reading something enriching, funny, informative, practical, learn about a great new product or see some cute photos of my darling children.Nope, none of the above.Today all you get, is me - dressed.Like I said, lucky day right? :: this was my last week Wednesday outfit. We had a playdate in the morning and weren't out of the house until the evening for a course at church ::top - american eagle (from winners)jeans - not sure of the brand but they were free!

:: I wanted to post this outfit because I'm so excited about this top! I was having a quick browse at our local Bibles For Missions thrift shop for a small table lamp to refurbish and something caught my eye. Without even trying it on, I walked out of the store with this diddy for only $3.31 ::top - BFMlong white tee - jacobjeans - wearhouse one scarf - SheBella accessories

And to answer the two questions you are asking:#1 - YES! I am still loooving my new hair color. Usually when I do something like that, it's a good week before I feel like I can stop looking in the mirror 20 times an hour to enjoy the new look but it's only been a few days and I already feel like I've had this hair color for years. #2 - Yes, I am wearing black flats with white socks. But no, I don't wear my choes in the house. I bought the shoes at Walmart for $9 for Cranberry Creek as a switch out pair for when my feet needed a break. I got every cent of my $9 out of wear out of them, because they are scuffed and stretched and not any good for wearing out. So rather than tossing them, I've adopted them as my hardsoled slippers. They don't quite keep my feet as warm as my fuzzy ones but I prefer wearing them. And don't forget, if you haven't entered to win a free package of Cleaner Planet Soap Nuts, you only have until tonight at midnight to leave a comment!Enter HERE. Happy Hump Day!

:: My Little People ::

2012-01-26T10:56:00.000-08:00

I was scrolling through my blog last night (yes, not only do I write the blog, I am also an avid reader of it) and I realized it had been a while since I've done any sort of update on on Dc and Pj.As much those two girls seem to fight over toys and bug each other, they play and wrestle and kiss and hug and sit and read together. It is so, SO much fun watching them become friends.:: denay with Santa ::

:: both of the girl's on santa's knee ::

:: just had to share this one ::

:: pj's turn ::

:: denay at the gun range the day before New Year's ::

:: yup, that's your truly, with a pistol (not mine, my older brother's) ::

:: and with a rifle. and yes, I'm wearing a pink flower headband ::

:: and the Mr. with the pistol. he really liked it ::

:: my mark sheet. the five shots around the bullseye are mine. I used a gun with a scope and with target was about 30 feet away ::

:: a little family photo shoot on New Year's day ::

:: denay, running ::

:: paisley, flying ::

:: I had a little mini-shoot with the girls after our family one ::

:: melt. my. heart ::

:: goober ::

:: the girls last week in their matching ducky ponchos after their bath. their new after bath routine is to both put their hoods up and run after each other and giggle ::

:: watching the snow fall, the first time for paisley ::

:: busted. "oh, sorry mum. did you want some?" ::

:: trying to eat her pancakes with the spatula ::

:: denay and momma bakin' some Pioneer Woman chocolate chip cookies ::

I just love life with these two goombas! If you haven't been around these parts for a few days, be sure to check out this post for you chance to win a free package of Cleaner Planet Soap nuts!

WIN FREE STUFF - {A Giveaway}

2012-01-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love free stuff?Even more, who doesn't love free stuff that is awesome? Just want to say a quick welcome to anyone who is here for the first time from Cleaner Planet's Facebook page or Twitter. I hope you enjoy your stay! Shortly after I wrote this post, gushing about my new found love (soap nuts), I got an email from the lady herself of Cleaner Planet. She thanked me for my write-up, and before you know it, we were planning a giveaway.I feel so passionate about these berries. Last week I used them to made an all-purpose, antibacterial spray and cleaned my whole house top-to-bottom without using a single chemical. Just my norwex cloths and my soap liquid.So, since I'm sure no one is exhausted with my constant raving about them, I'm going to talk some more. Wanna win this batch of soap nuts and a stick of all-natural stain remover? (just say yes, and make me feel good about myself)All you need to do is leave me a comment and tell me about your favourite green cleaning tricks/homemade cleaner recipes OR one way you have/are planning to, make a change and be greener in 2012 (cause green is the new, uh, black?).

Entries will be accepted until Wednesday night at 12:00am, February the first with the winner announced on Friday morning.The lucky winner will receive a package of Cleaner Planet Soap Nuts (that will do 80-100 loads of laundry) as well as a stick of Buncha Farmers Stain Remover.And if you happen to win and are a fellow blogger, you'll also need to post your own review of your experience with the product so as to spread the word even further!Feel free to check out Cleaner Planet's website for tips, FAQ's, reviews and more usage ideas. Thank you Katie and Marc from bring Soap Nuts into my life! Let the giving-awaying BEGIN!

I think. I need help.

2012-01-24T20:01:00.000-08:00

Okay. I'm out of control.At least that's what I'd like to think about myself.Really, I'm one of the most un-out-of-control people that I know. I digress. I was at a 30th birthday party for a very dear friend on Sunday that lasted until an hour and a half after the restaurant closed. It was an amazing evening, loud with friends and laughter. When we were all settled up, some of us weren't ready to go home, so six of us ended up at Tim Horton's....until midnight. Somewhere in that conversation, hair coloring came up and my girlfriend brought out her iPad and showed us a few photos of some celebrities whose hair color she liked. And so did I. I said, in passing, "I should dye my hair that color", to which my girlfriend replied, "Yes, you should".So, I did.A little over 12 hours from that moment, I was doing this......(and please excuse the really-happy-deer-in-headlights look in the first picture).

The color I ended up with is much darker and deeper than the photos I looked at, but I wanted something that was more of a departure from my natural color.It's not permanant (and yes, it's store bought) but I think I like it enough that I might keep it up for a while! Here's to whims and tolerant husbands!

::: Favourite Picks :::

2012-01-20T16:08:00.000-08:00

Okay.This is the THIRD time I've written this very long and labour intensive post. I'm hoping the one you actually read isn't the fourth (or fifth or sixth). I had the chance from the end of the October until the middle of December to travel with my in-laws to Red Deer, Regina, Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver and work in their Cranberry Creek booth at some of the largest Christmas craft shows in Canada.Along with a lot of working, I (of course) did a lot of shopping. And lucky for me, because my birthday and Christmas are both in December, lots of the goodies I came home with were presents!I'm going to introduce to you my absolute favourite businesses, products and people that I came across during my cross country galavant. :: just for kids all natural shampoo and conditioner - Kogi Naturals ::I came across this product in Vancouver, and was so excited to get it home and use it on my girls. The tangerine scented conditioner is amazing and I no longer need to use a detangler before I brush Denay's hair. And, of course, I can pronouce each one of the ingredients. I'm no longer a LiveClean user (which I discovered isn't as "clean" as it's made to appear) and once I finish with the bottle of hair care I'm using from the grocery store, I'm going to switch to Kogi's Rosemary and Mint line (LOVE that combo).

:: princess art print - Cici Art Factory ::This is my second purchase from Liz at Cici. I got my first last year at the Vancouver show and when I came across her booth again this year at the same show and she showed me the corresponding print, I had to have it. Liz's art is so playful and whimsical and original. If you are looking for a unique and special baby shower gift or some affordable art to add some flair to your own little one's room, her 8x10 prints are super afforable and she's got so many different collections and options.

:: lilith earrings - Foxy Originals ::Foxy had booths at a few of the shows I worked, and I went back oodles of times just to look at and admire their stuff. I was scanning their website one night and saw a picture of Paris Hilton wearing these earrings. Their stuff is chic and (the best part) totally reasonably priced and I have fallen in looove with their dahlia earrings.

:: chai spice - Daksha's Gourment Spices ::This very full-bodied spice mixture can be used in lots of different ways, but it was suggested to me by the owner as a before bed tea to help with a good sleep (which tends to be an issue for me). I find it very relaxing and enjoyable having a cup at night while I read!

:: yerbe mate tea - Mate Factor ::I. am. addicted. to their cinnamon rooibos tea (a cup is part of my new morning routine) but the lemon ginger is also lovely. This tea is organic, fair trade, naturally energizing, full of antioxidants and trace minerals and is delish!

:: dream weaver mister - Soulful Sister Aromatherapy ::Joanne was our neighbour in Vancouver and all of the gentle scents coming from the booth was very relaxing. I got this in my stocking and spray it on my pillow and sheets (and all over the place) before bed and because there are no artificial scents and only essentials oils, it is very soothing and gentle smelling. Joanne has a huge line of products, from misters to roll-ons, candles, lotions, bath salts, linen water and more!

:: twig toggle bag - Honeybea Design Hive ::I didn't choose this bag, it chose me. I walked by Becky's booth for the umpteenth time in Toronto (adoring her coaster-sized button bags and bumwarmers everytime) but this time, I swear I heard this bag call my name. I tried it on, put it back, left. I did that two more times, trying to be responsible and convincing myself I didn't need it. When I finally decided to buy it (with my mother-in-law's encouragement), I returned to the booth to find it gone. Little did I know that my MIL had bought it under my nose for my hubby and I found it under the tree on Christmas morning. The designer, Becky and I are both in agreement that this bag is very special, and I love that it's mine!

:: super garlicky bread dipper - The Garlic Box ::My husband and I came home from Walmart one night with one of their huge $1 sour dough loaves of bread......and then we sat down and devoured the whole thing in one sitting with this dip. If that doesn't tell you how good it is, I don't know what will. It. is. goooood.

:: one piece top - Kania ::This is my second piece from Kania and I love the fabric, structure and fit of her designs and I love that this hot coral is like me in a color.. I got this on sale and love how it can dress up a simple long sleeve shirt and a pair of jeans. It's cut like a donut out of fabric and can be worn belted or unbelted like a vest (right below) or a shawl/cape (next photo).

:: keremeos cowl - Lucky 14 Handmade (see FB page here) ::It's warm, soft, thick and fabulous. I tried all of Beatriz's styles on (a few times) and found a hard time making a desicion because they are all so lovely. Love, love.

:: feather headband - Thug Fairy Designs ::I bought this for my husband to put in my stocking :) It's perfect for snazzing up my hair when I only have time to throw it in a messy pony.

:: fascinator inspiried headband - Batavia by Sil ::I met Sil in Toronto and tried on almost all of her recycled material headbands to find this one and I adore it. She is such a sweet lovely woman who even brought her little ones to the show one day. I hope to see Sil's talent and love for keeping fabric from landfills, take her far.

:: genuine emu feather earrings - Featherettes ::I met Katy and Katie in Vancouver and snagged their second to last pair of this style of earrings. Their stuff is super chic and funky and is handmade not far from where I live and I hope to add some more of their designs to my accessories wardrode sometime soon.

:: micah sweater in soft pink - Luved Clothing ::I got this top as a gift for my birthday and just love it. It's soft, comfy and oh-so versatile! Luved has a line of one-size women's clothing that are made to be worn numerous different ways and can be dressed up with leggings and boots or dressed down with jeans and flats.

Phew.My blogging marathon means your reading marathon.Be sure to check out these artists/products and support Canadian made!

New Year ::: Crazy Obsessive House Decorating

2012-01-13T17:26:00.000-08:00

Al.most. There.I've got one more coat on one more chair and the table legs, but I couldn't wait to share all the changes I've been making with you. ::: so here are my kitchen chairs. you can't really tell in the photos but the chair on the left is before paint and one on the right is after. the whole chair used to be the same color as the seat. i painted them the first time a few years ago, and they were way due for an update :::

::: before being covered :::

::: here is a before of the dining area :::notice the chairs, drapes and corner hutch......

::: some of the orange decor from my kitchen :::

::: and the black star on my dining room wall that was black (like everything else) :::

::: sha-ZAAM :::

::: awesome new drapes from walmart that am in LOVE with :::
::: and my pretty new chairs!!! (they have since been covered in plastic) :::

::: after searching half a dozen stores I found a lovely blue spray paint that pulled out one of the colors in the chair fabric and went paint crazy :::

::: my kitchen before :::

::: after I took almost everything down :::

::: and after i redecorated a bit today (and after my husband informed me it looked to bare) :::

::: the hutch after. switched some things around and added a few of those painted blue touches :::

::: the kitchen sink area with the once-orange-now-smoke-blue accessories :::
sorry about the crazy disjointed post and crappy, unfocused and poorly colored photos.just having a minute to sit and blog is rare so i'm not going for quality here :)i've been having lots of fun rearranging and moving things around and trying to organize and clear things out. be sure to check back again for a breakdown of some of my favourite products that I came across during my craft show tour.AND i'm also going to be having a giveaway......(insert cliffhanger)

verse of the year || 2012

2012-01-07T17:39:00.000-08:00

{2012}

I'm not much of a yearly planner.

I don't make resolutions.

I don't sit and make a list of all the things I want to accomplish in the year.

Maybe I should, but I don't.

I guess I would rather focus on keepin' on keepin' on, instead of overwhelming myself with lists and to-do's and must-get-done's.

Then God gently reminded me of a verse dear to my heart, given to me by a woman who was dear to me.

I can't think of something better to claim and pray over myself and my family than this incredible piece of God's word.

"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."

I'm looking forward to reading this post in early 2013 and being able to see God's hand, fulfilling His word in my life throughout the year.

There Are Nuts In My Washing Machine!

2012-01-05T16:36:00.000-08:00

It's 2012.

How the last year went by, I have no idea (if you know, please enlighten me).

Every year, with the taking down of the Christmas decor, a sort of fever sets in.

I develop this drive, an uncontrollable urge to organize, re-arrange, sort, purge, scrub, clean and purge some more.

Clothes, toys, food, knick-knacks, bedrooms, closets; nothing is safe. It works well that most major stores cater to my type, and put all of their storage products on sale right around the time of the year I NEED to buy them.

So that's what I've been doing, just one week into the New Year. My To-Do list continues to grow and my spare time to keep up on here dwindles.

But I wanted to take a quick second to share with you an incredible new laundry soap I've discovered though a girlfriend of mine.

They are called Soap Nuts, and it's soap that literally grows on trees! They are organic, hypoallergenic and best and most important of all, antibacterial.

I have tested them out on my stinky cloth diapers and my very stinky (impossible to get clean without bleach) dish cloths, and after just one wash they both came out totally spotless and completely odour free.

I was floored when I took my cloths from the dryer to finally find them CLEAN.

I've bought Cleaner Planet Soap Nuts but if you google "soap nuts" I'm sure you could find a company that sells them wherever you are!

I could go on and on and on......I always have people ask me whether the natural products I use, clean as well as the ones packed with chemicals from the grocery store, and with soap nuts, I can honestly and enthusiastically say yes!

So there's my plug.

Happy Laundry-ing!

December: A Photo Journal

2011-12-29T21:24:00.000-08:00

:: picking the christmas tree ::

:: her gingerbread train ::

:: reflections ::

:: her first school concert ::

:: story time with grampy ::
:: cousins ::

:: two boys, one girl, LOTS of love ::

:: with st. nick ::

:: so excited ::

:: playing dress-up ::

:: framer ::
:: christmas train 2011 ::

:: wedding slideshow shot ::

:: christmas portrait ::

:: the mc's - christmas eve ::

:: all jammied up and ready for stockings ::

:: an heirloom in the making ::

:: christmas morning, sitting on their present ::

:: happy momma!! (post on what's in theat box to come) ::
:: daddy's new game (that he's playing as I blog) ::

:: christmas movie - the grinch ::

:: happy birthday baby jesus ::

:: the uncles are in town and their toys came too (reminds me of this shot of another little girl holding a gun) ::

{All Chalked Out}

2011-11-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

I posted a while ago about a few chalkboard label projects I had on the go, and they've finally all arrived! And, all from Etsy sellers for under $15!

(yes, most of them don't have anything on them yet....haven't had a chance to get a small piece of chalk to write on them)

{One Thousand Gifts}

2011-10-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have heard of this book, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.

I confess I've never read the book, but I intend to.

My Pastor has been preaching an amazing series on hospitality, generosity and thankfulness.

On Sunday, he challenged me so deeply, quoting some of Ann's first thanksgivings.

I got home and started my list.

I'm going to share it with each Sunday, all the gifts I choose to receive each week.

I hope it will uplift you, challenge you and help you to see your circumstances in a different light; in the light of Christ and the light of His sacrifice.

{1} thick red hair

{2} wind blowing through the blinds

{3} eight tooth smiles

{4} a basket full of folded laundry

{5} the hydro bill

{6} dishwasher full of dishes

{7} captured moments

{8} puddles on a rainy day

{9} long distance conversations

{10} the promise of a rainbow in a wet sky

{11} tiny, distracted footsteps

{12} a red light

{13} the mess left behind after all the guests leave

{14} cake smeared on little faces

{15} a terrible night sleep for the reminder that all my strength comes from HIM

{16} morning cuddles

{17} hands covered in pumpkin goop

{18} hearing "ba" but knowing she means "book"

{19} unexpected vistors on a special day

{20} big prayers from a little mouth

Carvin' & Slicin'

2011-10-21T10:45:00.000-07:00

What follows a gorgeous, warm and sunny fall day at the pumpkin patch?Goofy faces carved into picked pumpkins, of course!Denay wouldn't have any of touching the smelly, sticky stuff inside, by Mr. and I had a great time.

::: Gettin' Lost :::

2011-10-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

mud.

corn.

hay.

tractors.

pumkins.

pigs and goats.

friends.

sunshine.

that's how you make a perfect fall day with a little family.

we wandered through the corn maze, and tramped through mud. sat on hay bales for a bumpy tractor ride and brought our pumpkins home.

{Thanksgiving 2011}

2011-10-19T15:46:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving weekend, six years ago (before I was even engaged) P&S announced that they were pregnant with Bebe L, who turned out to be Jacob, who is now five.Four years ago on Thanksgiving weekend, after watching Shawna and little Jacob (who was 15 months at the time) we decided to try for a baby, who turned out to be Denay, who is now three.On Thanksgiving weekend one year ago, we proudly attended church on Sunday morning at a family of four for the first time, with our one-week-old Paisley, who is now one-year-old. It struck me while spending a lovely weekend with my inlaws, how much one weekend can mean.

{busted in the kleenex box}

{making tim-bit acorns with auntie shawna (Y.U.M.)}

{some pre-dinner portraits}

{turkey hats!!}

{#2's, #1}

2011-10-18T09:40:00.000-07:00

Yeesh, talk about being a little behind.My not-so-little-anymore Paisley turned one almost three weeks ago and we had any evening dinner with a house stuffed full of family and friends.{started the morning with a skype call with grammie}

{we spent the morning out and then came home to start the prep. just after lunch, I was expecting my mom over and when the knock came at the door, I got the best surprise of the day, because in ran my two nephews and close behind them, my amazing SIL Shawna. needless to say the tears started falling (mine) and Denay was ecstatic}

{birthday baby!}

{all the cousins}

{the cake. my plan was for a simple, one layer "flower" cake that Shawna turned into this......}

{i love this, it's even cuter now that Paisley just starting saying "Oooohhhhhhbaa"}

{gorg. eous.}

{this is face she made during the entire birthday song. as soon as everyone started singing she froze still with the biggest ol' smile on her face}

{happy birthday paisley}

SURPRISE!

2011-10-04T11:52:00.000-07:00

two weekends ago, we had a loooovely visit from my inlaws, AND, they brought my two nephews along.the best part?denay didn't know.{who's at the door?}

{it's jacob!}

{hugs}

{coley hugs}

{jacob looooves his baby paisley}

{i caught them upstairs reading together}

{we ate mac n' cheese, shopped, swam and giggled and enjoyed our time so very much. thanks mum and dad for making such a long day for yourselves and bringing the cousins together!}

.One.Year.

2011-10-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

one year, to the day.that's how long it's been since our sweet and goofy paisley landed in our lives, and i dismiss all cliches when i say that i couldn't imagine my life without her.god used her to heal my fears and anxiety after my experience with denay.{here a couple of shots taken during my labour and delivery}

{happy birthday mamma's snuggle-buggle. i love you more everyday!}

{Stuff I Loooove}

2011-09-30T23:01:00.000-07:00

{pretty little bobble necklace}the bestest part? FREE. yup, i hosted a SheBella party and this was my hostess gift

{pretty little liars}guilty pleasure.....can't. figure. it. out.that and i loooove the typography of the title
{repurposed canisters}in the girls' playroom and playing house to all their hairbands, elastics, brushes and bowsi'm working on getting a some chalkboard labels off of etsy to spruce them up

{alphabet cookie cutters}a gifty from grammie for my big girlyyou can find them at superstore
{etsy}if you've been there, no explaination is requiredif you haven't, you need to go
{adele}'nough saidi seriously listen to (and possibly belt out at the top of my lungs) someone like you, turning tables, rolling in the deep, and set fire to the rain every. single. dayshe is beautiful and fierce talented

:: Learning Our Letters ::

2011-09-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

We, are learning our letters!I've tried a few ways, but when walking through Superstore last weekend, I came across an adorable set of alphabet cookie cutters that I knew would do the trick. Grammie (thank you!!) picked them up for the girls, and we spent some time making yummy chocolate sugar cookie dough.I'd never made shape cookies before, so it was a bit of an adventure.....

{and the result. i refridgerated the dough sort of accidentally for a few days, and i think it dried out, because when I tried to roll it, it completely fell apart. so i had to rip it off in chunks, work it together and pat it out with my hands so needless to say it took a really long time. but time very well spent, denay now knows her big "A"}
time for "B"!

Wordless Wednesday :: Sunday Portraits

2011-09-28T09:55:00.000-07:00

::: Just A Little Lately :::

2011-09-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this is almost a couple ago old but I wanted to throw it in. My SIL second-handed us my nephews peddleless bike and before all the rainy fall weather hit, we spent sometime trying it out.Denay didn't quite pick up on the concept but we had fun nonetheless!

Coloring time! Denay and I have been working on learning our letters and we let Paisley in on the marker fun.....

::: A Last Playdate :::

2011-09-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

Goodbyes are hard.I had to say a pretty rough one last week, and I mean rough.I've known Becca for years, and over the past few, have grown deeply in my friendship with her.Along with her husband and two girlies, she moved to Fernie on Tuesday where her husband got a new job.I cried a lot, and gave and was given a lot of hugs.{Evie (almost three), Michal (four) and Denay}{these goofballs spent over an hour playing our bed, jumping, and taking turns doing "silly things"}{on tuesday, the day before she left, our little group of momma's met at the park for one last playdate, one last momdate. as per usual, yours truly brought along her camera to capture everything}

{Michal (4), Olivia (4), Denay (3), Evie (Michal's sister, almost 3), Chloe (2), Abigail (almost 3), Caleb (4), Gavin (Caleb's brother, almost 3)}
{hands up!}
{this is part where everyone started crying}

{Me (with Paisley), Becca (mom to Michal and Evie), Kelly, (back row, mom to Olivia), Kerry (mom to Chloe), Megan (back beside Kelly with Baby Gracie, almost 9 months), Natalie (mom to Abigail, with Charlotte, 16 months), Alana (mom and to Caleb and Gavin)}

I love these women. They are my friends, my sisters, my support and encouragement and my Bachelorette viewing buddies. They are all incredible, real, strong and amazing.Becca, thanks for being you. For being there, for listening, for laughing. We we all miss you so very much and our little town will be a little less wonderful without you!

{Farewell To Summer}

2011-09-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

"better late than never"not usually a motto I strive to live by, but when it came to our September (which is normally way to chilly) trip to the lake last Sunday for the last super warm day of the year, it was just the phrase to sum the day up.We, ahem, skippedchurchtogotubingandwakeboarding *cough*.{paisley girl}

{yours truly up on the wakeboard for the first time in a few years and loooooving it}

{hubby got up first try!}

{and got a little airtime to boot}

{we picked up our friends a few hours later and enjoyed some awesome time with them. Trev and Chene tubing}

{denay wasn't a huge fan, but we went nice and slow and her "I don't want to!" tears soon disappeared}

{then kelly and I asked my dad for a nice relaxing tube ride. this is what happened}

{yep, my tube isn't even touching the water}

{going for a dip on a hot day.....there's nothing like it!}

{please excuse the terrible hair}

{then I decided I'd board again (even though I took a nasty face plant the first time) and this.....

....is how that round ended. Needless to say, I was bruised and sore for the next few days but it was all completely worth it. The day couldn't have been more perfect!
Sunshine, mountains, a cool clean lake, good friends and lots of laughing; pretty much sums up all you could want.

Free, Free

2011-09-15T13:40:00.000-07:00

{we've been living on a relatively snug budget lately, but even though, I'd go crazy if I couldn't keep making house, decorating and nesting. so that means it's all about getting creative! here's a few ways I've snuck some cute and perfect decor into the house at no cost to me!}:: my mom brought us back a sack of coffee from Jamacia last year and I stuffed the burlap bag with macaroni noodles and it fits just perfect in my window}
{these orange containers are actually burnt out candles that I filled with decorative wicker balls that I had lying around}

{I love these. Found them in my mom's basement and they hang over my kitchen window, keeping the"Dutch" in my house (there are three but the third photo won't show up)}

{this was also a mom's house steal. I had to take it apart and give it a good clean but I love the vintage frame and having it in my living area}

{guilty again. this way my parents camping toaster and I think they bought it before I was born. I scrubbed and polished and it ornaments the shelf above my cupboards}

{Wordless Wednesday}

2011-09-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

---just a smattering of moments from over our summertime---

:: First Day ::

2011-09-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

Last Monday night, I crawled into Denay's little bed, lay down beside her and started to cry. "What's wrong mummy?", Denay asked in her sweet little voice. "Mommy's just really going to miss you when you go to school", I responded. She propped herself up on one elbow, started stroking my cheek and saying, "It's okay mummy, it's okay".She's just three, but it felt so right for her. She's so social and detailed and smart, we thought it would be good for her to get some early teaching above what she gets at home.So on September 6th, I rolled over and panicked. Of course I would sleep in on her first day. But I managed to get both kids up and fed and changed and out the door in 15 minutes!{First Day Of Preschool}

{of course, Daddy wanted to be there too, so his boss gave him some time off to come to school and hold his little girls hand}

{Infront of her backpack hanger}

{with mommy, who looks I only woke up a half hour ago}

{playing already (those are Paisley's chubby little hands in the side of the picture)}

I'll admit it, I was one of "those" mom's, standing at the door saying "bye" and "mommy loves you" a dozen times without any response from my completely distracted and excited daughter. Three hours later we were back to pick up a little girl who was full of stories and songs. She went back again on Thursday, again without a hitch. And while I'm missing my time along with her on those morning, it gives me some baby free time (while #2 naps) to get dinner prepped and the cleaning done, so that when she comes home, we have lunch and then a whole hour of straight playtime until afternoon naps!

::: Labour Day Long Weekend :::

2011-09-10T14:46:00.000-07:00

Food.Fire.Laughter.Strawberry Daiquiris.Reading.
Playing.Biking.Beach.Add all that up with a group of the mostest awesomest people ever, and you've got what was our spectacular Labour Day long weekend camping trip.We stayed at a gorgeous RV resort for three nights and spent copius amounts of time watching our gaggle of children ride their bikes and trikes up and down the street.:: the girls playing, the Mr. helping Rosalyn on the trike, Miss Paisley eating supper, Denay and Opa, Mommy and Paisley ::
:: Opa and Oma with Liv and Denay, the gorgous view looking to Duke Point, Mr., Jan and Natalie on our evening walk, Opa and his girls, Oma and playing with Denay and Liv ::
:: Paisley and Denay's morning faces, Charlotte and Paisley (the crawlers) trapped in the playpen, Abby on her trike, Denay and Liv playing in the dirt, Abby and Denay on their trikes ::
:: Me swimming away with Evan's inflatable and Evan trying to catch me, Denay at the beach x2, Paisley in the sand, C&K soaking up the rays ::
:: Miss K* being her fabulous self, the girls around the fire, the boys playing a riveting afternoon game of Settlers of Catan, those strawberry daiquiris, Jan's face up really close ::
:: Momma and Paisley, K* enjoying her smores, Liv enjoying her smores, Evan and Liv sittin' by the fire, Rosalyn eating her marshmallow off of a pieces of kindling ::
:: just after Dan threw Jan in the water, little Michal sleeping in the front seat of the truck, the lunch table, Evie having a snuggle with daddy, the kids in the sand ::
:: Evan riding bikes, Paisley being pulled around on her car, Paisley playing with Abby's trike, Dan helping Evie ride, Paisley waving to her admirers ::
:: Mr. and Paisley sharing an ice cream cone, the crew waiting for ice cream, Denay's silly face, Liv's silly face, Liv, Denay and Abby enjoying their treat ::
:: Smooches, our double stroller turned into a triple, Paisley in the dirt, C* eating his burger, Evan convinced we was coming home with us ::

I'll admit that I've been in a funk since we got home. My soul is fed and full when I spend time around good friends and coming home and waking up and not being able to say good morning was crumby. I loved eating meals together, serving one another, watching and looking out for each other's kids, walking, talking, laughing and sharing. It feels like real community, like the proverbial "village". Everything was a team effort and no man was left behind. We cooked each other's smores, shared our food, washed each others dishes. And to top it off, we had temperatures in the high 20's ALL weekend! It was a rich time and I think the overall consensus was that it's going to become annual. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Hope you are having a looovely sunny Saturday!I've just gotten home from my Midwifery Group picnic and am packing up for a huge potluck supper at the water park to send off four wonderful friends who are moving to the Interior.Enjoy the warm friends!

In Recipes :: Chicken & Dumplings

2011-09-09T10:41:00.000-07:00

I'm going to share with you my absolute FAVOURITE meal.It's been my favourite since I was a kid.Chicken and Dumplings.I've seen many variation of this, but I find this one the simplest and most "like mom used to make".So, get yerself some chicken thighs. I get asked a lot why I use these (instead of boneless skinless breasts) and the answer is, "I always cook them too long and dry them out". Thighs are much fattier (trust me, you should see mine!) and I find they stay much more moist! But if you know how to oven roast breasts, then use those!I use eight of them, which is always enough for the family and then lunch for Mr. the next day. Defrost the night before.....

......then take some mushroom soup.....

......and mix two cans in a 9x13 casserole dish with about a half can of water....

.....and mix it all up, till it looks like, well, soup!

Then smoosh your chicken in the dish, sprinkle with a little paprika, cover with tin foil and bake for about an hour at 375 degrees.

Then, oh then......the dumplings.Here is the recipe I use:2c white flour4tsp baking powder1tsp salt4tbsp soft margarine/butter1c of milk (I find the mix always needs a few splashes more)about a half package of onion soup mixI didn't have soup mix when I made this last week so a couple pinches of onion powder did the trick, but that good ol' home cookin' taste comes from that soup mix!Mix it all together, make sure to let your adorable kids help!

And you'll want the consistancy to look like this......

Take the dish out of the oven (after and hour) and plop dollops (say that three times fast and smile) of the mixture in with the chicken.

And while you are doing all that, get some veggies on! I always make it with sweet peas, just cause I like them!

The dumplings usually need about 15-20 minutes, but a toothpick inserted will let you know if they are still doughy inside or not.

Serve it up and makes sure to pour lots of "sauce", like I called it as a kid, all over everything!

And watch it disappear......

All this blogging about it making me wish I was cooking it tonight ;)

Uncle Kevin

2011-09-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

This is Uncle Kevin.He lives sort-of far away.He loves my kids, and they L.O.V.E. him.We had him here for most of August and he brought along his toy RZR....and now Denay loves him even more.

{off they go}

{4x4ing in the trees}

{taking a rather fast trip down the road with mamma}

{playing bubbles the night before he left}

{we miss you Uncle Kevin, thanks for the visit}

{Hope}

2011-09-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

It's time.

Time for me to share again about an under-recognized issue in Canada (and worldwide for that matter): sex trafficking.

If you're around here often, you've seen the couple of blog posts I've done on some amazing friends of mine who are in the trenches of a very active war against the kidnapping and exploitation of women for sexual abuse (see those posts, here and here).

Michelle and Jay have just made a very exciting announcement via her Hope For The Sold blog.......they are gearing up to make another documentary! Check that post out here (and if you've yet to see their first film, you can watch it here). Their next film will put the spotlight on the truths and realities of legalizing prostitution and exposing the facts of what a negative path that is, and focus on a model that is known to work and reduce the issue of human trafficking.

I've joined on as a prayer partner, and am on day 10 of a 40 day prayer focus with them.
Would you join me, in joining with them?
Jay and Michelle are both only in their mid-twenties, but are true veterans of faith and trust and once again are stepping out in the belief that their God is bigger. He is stronger. And He is faithful to do beyond all that we could even imagine.
They need prayer, they need finances and they need contacts.
If you can provide any of those things, please contact them via Michelle's blog (they are REALLY nice, I promise).
Let's stand up, use our voices and rise against these abuses, and do our part to bring hope and healing.......

{Stuff I Loooove}

2011-09-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

I've been collecting this list for a while.It's just a schmozle of odds and sods that I've found useful/awesome. {OPI Nail Lacquer in Elephantastic Pink}

{contigo reusable water bottles (from Costco)}

{uGlu}I found this in that "As Seen On Tv" section in the checkout aisles in Walmart and grabbed it on impulse (Mr. said I got sucked in). It is AWESOME. I have used it all over the house, in numerous different ways, and it gets two thumbs up from me!

{sudocrem}It for Paisley's bum.It works great and I prefer it over pentaten.

{live clean}We've used their adult body wash (amazing), baby wash, 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner, baby lotion, and their spray leave-in conditioner. Wonderful, environmentally friendly, organic ingredients.....What's not to love?

{glass storage}$9.99 at London Drugs. It used to have a lid, then Denay broke it.
{storage jars}
Around $40 for all three at Walmart. Fab. U. Lous.
{cake platter}
Wedding Gift. This even looks great when there is nothing in it (right now it's full of a big ol' slice of Alana's vanilla cake).

{$13 fridge dry-erase calender}Complete with pictures of my adorable nephews.

{modernpraise.com}

This website has become part of my morning routine. It plays almost all day and it is so uplifting and amazing....AND, totally advertisement free. I would highly recommend you try it!

:: What I Wore Wednesday ::

2011-08-31T10:58:00.000-07:00

This was from yesterday, after coming home from bringing Denay to her first dentist check-up.(please exuce the poor photo, it's hard trying to get a good one while holding a baby who wants to grab the camera)

Earrings - gift from my MILTop - $5 at church fundraiserJeans - hand-me-down from a girlfriendSandals - gift from my MIL (we have matching ones!)Thumb-sucking ADORABLE baby girl - FREE after exactly nine-months of pregnancy and three hours of labour

You probably noticed........

2011-08-30T15:30:00.000-07:00

So, you more than likely have noticed that, at long last, I've got a snazzy new blog header and name to boot!

I want to thank Amber, at Amber Leigh Creative for patching together the perfect design!

Hope ya'll like!

:: Denay at the Dentist ::

2011-08-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

:: in the waiting room, having a hard time sitting still. and yes, she did dress herself, if you were wondering ::

:: in the chair, ready to see Dr. Steve......the assistant was joking about how the bib was bigger than she was ::

:: opening wide like an alligator! ::

:: counting all our teethies ::

:: happy smiles! all healthy, and got to pick a pretty ring "like mommy's" as a prize ::

Must Share

2011-08-22T22:26:00.000-07:00

I really like blogging. A whole lot.

It is a special way for me to journal our lives and is a much need outlet for this mamma.

I am not a big blog reader. Yes, I have a couple dozen friends whose blogs I read regularly (and try to comment regularly too) and enjoy very much, but a while ago I deleted all the blogs written by people I don't know from my reader. I found I was spending so much time scrolling through random blogs and not enough time writing my own or doing other things that mean much more in life. When I do things, I'm not the type of person to do it half-heartedly, so "just flipping" through a blog isn't good enough. I need to read each word, each piece of advice, and laugh at each joke. And always found myself making comparisons, and wishing my blog was more like everyone elses.

For some reason the other night, when I should have been in bed, I popped over to the Jones Design Company blog. I came to know about it through my SIL and it was the website that gave me the tutorial for the coffee filter wreath I made. This woman has a seriously beautiful house, is stunning herself, has hundreds of followers, and is ridiculously talented. All things I sometimes have a hard time believing I am or have.

I came across this post that she wrote and I just needed to share it with you (whoever "you" are). I think she truly hits the nail on the head when it comes to how we as women are so quick to compare, and judge ourselves, feel uncapable or worthless.

Pop on over and have read, and I hope you feel as uplifted as I did. It is such a well-worded reminder that even though my house isn't a big or as such-and-such as someone elses, or I might not think I write as well as someone else or have as many followers, that my value is not summed up in these things and that my talents and worth are as unique as a snowflake and as precious to the Father as yours and are something to hold in high esteem.

I hope you always feel uplifted, encouraged and blessed when you visit here. My heart is to share just how life is, and not to create the illusion that my life is anything but what it is.

And thank you, for reading......

:: Lazy Daze of Summer ::

2011-08-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

:: Little PJ playin' in the kidde pool. And no, that's not a tear in her eye, she climbed into the pool and face planted in the water ::

:: Denay keepin' cool ::

:: Denay swimming in Cowichan Lake all by herself ::
:: And again in Opa's pool ::

:: PJ and daddy getting ready for a swim ::

:: PJ in her floaty, lovin' the water. Reminds me of these photos of Denay just after she turned one ::
I've just started getting back into creating Paisley's scrapbook so here is fair warning that these post might become fewer and farther between :)

:: Baby, be Blessed ::

2011-08-18T14:28:00.000-07:00

I have absolutely no idea, where I first heard about these dolls. I do know, however, that I've wanted one for Denay since her first birthday, and finally got around to getting her one for her third. That being said, it didn't arrive in time, and she got it when daddy came up to Quadra a few weeks later.This, is Denay's BabybeBlessed doll.....

:: all perched on the dresser where she sleeps ::

:: Denay's scripture from Zephaniah ::

These dolls are hand sewn by a group of Christian women who want to spread the love of Jesus, one doll at a time. Their about section on their website is quite beautiful and I'm pretty sure one of these babes will be Paisley's Christmas present!

:: Some Decorating Housekeeping ::

2011-08-16T13:16:00.000-07:00

I'm going to combine a couple of posts in this one!If you missed my spray-paint madness post, check it out here, and then this post will be much more fufilling and satisfiying to read....I had originally planned to put the antique dutch portraits in the girls' playroom, but that got vetoed by the Mr. because he thought the room way too playful for them. So I spent all day yesterday, holding them on walls, shuffling things around in an attempt to find just the right spot for them. I tried them in our bedroom, thought Mr. would love them: notsomuch. So while he bathed the girls I was taking things of walls, plate out of holders and decor off of shelves. Nada, noffin, zippo. And then I found this spot.....

Perfection. My antique portraits right above my funky (and oh-so-functional) antique mail bin (picked up in Rockaway Beach, OR) on my avocado souffle colored walls.

So that leaves those adorable animal prints, which ended up right where I thought I was putting the portraits.

This is mainly for my friend Loni, who ya'll might remember as the fantabulous photographer who captured my Paisley belly and our most recent family session. Before our family session with her, a Groupon landed in my email inbox for a 16x20 canvas print from Picture It On Canvas for $49. My SIL had used one back in December for my MIL's Christmas present so I already knew the quality I was getting. I bought one and the day I got our DVD of our session, picked out my favvy and got it ordered. After seeing the proof, and not liking how it completely cropped out all of the wonderful composition of the photo, I spend an extra $15 to upgrade to a 16x24. A few weeks later, the box arrived and it could not be more perfect!

Thanks for making my walls so lovely Loni!

{Joining KIVA}

2011-08-12T14:59:00.000-07:00

This.....

......is Katherine Janet Atalaya Vasquez.
All thanks to our dear, dear friends who came to Denay's 3rd birthday party, we were able to lend Katherine $75. Along with eight other lenders, Katherine was given a loan for $300 in order to buy feed for the birds she raises and sells and be able to expand her flock in order to provide better for her family. She is 29-years-old and is a mom to young kids.
I was drawn to Katherine because she is a young mom, like myself, and being raised on a farm, I've got a special place in my heart for agriculture. You can visit her profile here.
If you've never heard of KIVA, it is an incredible organization that gives you an opportunity to lend money to entreprenuers from all over world, of every age and gender. Once your money is payed back, you can re-invest it into another business. It an amazing way to empower people who need it, to make a way for themselves and give them a helping hand, rather than a hand-out. AND you can start with a mere $25 loan, that will change someone's life.
Please visit our family link here and get started with your own $25 loan. There are so many wonderful people you can help.

:: Makin' Old Things New (looking) Again ::

2011-08-08T19:44:00.000-07:00

My name is Christy Joy and I, am a spray paint warrior.
No, really, I actually got called that once.
But it's true, I love spray paint. I love that I can take something given to me or found for a steal at the thrift store or a swap and using couple cents worth of paint, make it just what I want.
That's what I spent my afternoon doing yesterday!
:: I picked up these ADORABLE animal prints for a dollar for all four at a kids swap six months ago. Each frame was colored to match the print inside and I thought it was a little tacky but a five minutes worth of spraying and, SHAZAM, fresh and adorable and much more usable! ::

:: I picked these guys up for a buck or so at our church's annual youth garage sale in June and was able to past their, uhh, "look", and with a little white paint, they are actually half decent. I've not decided that I love them yet, so we will see if they stick around ::

:: These cutesies were a gift from my MIL and date back to the 50's. When I saw them I knew I'd want to use them in one of the kids' rooms and the black frames wouldn't do. I think the white frame gives it a new and fresh look and I think I've decided on hanging them in the play room ::

Go on, I dare you.
Go digging in your basement or attic or closet and I bet you'll find something old, that, with a quick coat of good spray paint (I bought mine at Benjamin Moore and it's the best stuff I've ever used), it can have a new look and you can get "new" decor for your home by freshening up things you already own!

Oregon Coast Roadtrip :: A Photo Journal :: Getting There

2011-08-05T09:32:00.000-07:00

:: on our way to the Anacortes Ferry ::

:: family shot ::

:: road tunes ::

:: meeting up with the in-laws ::

:: heading out from Olympia on Sunday morning ::

:: cr-AZY overpass, bypass, cloverleaf in Portland ::

:: arrival in Newport, OR ::

Oregon Coast Roadtrip :: A Photo Journal :: Newport, Oregon

2011-08-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

:: Our first few day stop was in Newport, a quaint little fishing town on the coast with loads of charm ::

:: Denay's real birthday ::

:: seriously, seriously amazing ::

:: trip to the oregon coast aquarium ::

:: three crazy kooks ::

:: saw this and thought of my friends Jay and Michelle Brock ::

Oregon Coast Roadtrip :: A Photo Journal :: Florence Day Trip

2011-08-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

:: we all made a daytrip down to Florence, the Sand Dunes and the world's largest Sea Lion cave ::

:: travelling over 200 feet into the rock to the cave ::

Oregon Coast Roadtrip :: A Photo Journal :: Cannon Beach

2011-08-05T09:27:00.000-07:00

:: our longest stop was in Cannon Beach, and it was my favourite spot ::

:: that's me in the upper right corner, after I wiped out skim boarding in a mini-skirt ::

:: amazing ::

Oregon Coast Roadtrip :: A Photo Journal :: Copalis Beach

2011-08-05T09:25:00.000-07:00

:: our last stop all together was in Copalis Beach, just north of Ocean Shores in Washington ::

:: our little setup ::

:: yep, just driving on the beach ::

:: flying her kite ::

Oregon Coast Roadtrip :: A Photo Journal :: Forks, La Push, Sol Duc Hotsprings and Home

2011-08-05T09:24:00.000-07:00

:: we said goodbye to the Mr.'s parents and made our way up the Olympic Pennisula to Forks and La Push and then farther up to the Sol Duc rainforest ::

:: bella's truck from the twilight movies ::

:: being a dork in the visitors center ::

:: beautiful La Push beach ::

:: playing with my shutter speed on our hike to Sol Duc falls ::

:: paisley wasn't allowed in the hotspring so the Mr. took denay ::

:: the day of our five-year anniversary ::

:: waiting at the Port Angeles ferry terminal ::

:: Quadra 2011 ::

2011-08-05T09:20:00.000-07:00

The Tuesday after we arrived home from the states, the trailer was packed up again and I was headed up to Quadra Island to spend another six days with the girls and my parents.

We walked, swam (in the kiddie pool), boated, biked and relaxed!

:: denay with her butterfly costume (birthday present from Uncle Jordie and Auntie Lindsey), her new puppy kennel toy (birthday present from the Laderoute's) and her new Baby be Blessed doll (our birthday gift to her that didn't arrive in time).

:: she kept telling daddy she wanted to fly with her wings. so fly she did ::

Check out this post from our trip last year. It's amazing how things change!

:: Home, Again ::

2011-08-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm back, again.

My hiatus is over.

A last minute opportunity to spend a six days on Quadra Island with my parents came up and I took it. The Mr. had to work but was able to join us on Sunday afternoon for a fire, boat ride, huge steak/prawn/corn on the cob dinner and a bike ride followed by more fire and lots of lounging.

So now I have more photos to edit and a very long "to post about list".

But the sun shines, the babies nap and I'm having a good hair day......so the catching up with catch itself up eventually.

Heaps of love!

Been Gone

2011-07-24T15:53:00.000-07:00

It's so relieving to finally be able to talk about our two-week long holiday, now that we're back.
It was lovely.
We saw, we did.....and I even started (sort of) drinking coffee.
:: The MaC's ~ Newport, OR ~ 2011 ::

I've only got 561 photos to pick from, so be sure that you will be fully updated!
Hooray, finally, for some SUMMER!

Do It Yourself :: A Cinderella Dress Cake

2011-07-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

"Five hours to make, five minutes to hack to pieces".
The words out of my mouth while I served up Denay's 3rd birthday Cinderella cake at her party. But, the look on her face when she saw it for the first time, and the fact that she is still thanking me, makes it all worth it.
So, here's the rundown on how I fashioned my little homemade creation.

I did a lot of research, looked through dozens of photos and watch numerous YouTube videos and after considering many different combinations of pans and bowls, I decided on an angel food cake pan and a four cup pyrex mixing bowl. I used a super moist boxed cake mix, and found that it was very crumbly and ended up having to make two because the first one fell apart out of the angel pan.
Our cast of characters......

I mixed up the cake mix and distributed it between the two pans.....

I think I should have mixed in some flour to firm up the cake a little to make it easier to work with.

I made the cakes a couple days ahead so I wrapped them REALLY well with plastic wrap and put them in the freezer. On Thursday afternoon, I took them out and while they were still frozen, started shaping them.

I took the smaller of the cakes, that would become the top, and cut the dome off so that it would lie flat on top of the angel food pan cake.

.....just like that!

Then I did the same for the larger cake. This is where I ran into major crumbly cake issues. It just seemed (as you can see) to not want to stay together!

Then I placed the smaller cake upside down on the narrower part of the larger cake. I then took a large serrated knife, and keeping with the angle of the smaller cake, I cut around the bottom cake and ended up with this.....

Then I cut a hole in the top of the small cake for the doll to be inserted into.....

Then, while I re-whipped my buttercream icing (made the day before) I took a second to wrap my Cinderella Barbie's lower body to keep it from getting ruined by icing.

In order to get in another layer of icing in, I cut the bottom layer in two.....

I used my glass cake platter and placed the lowest layer near the back (so I'd have room for three cupcakes) and then wriggled some tin foil underneath to keep the plate clean during icing.

Yummy buttercream icing, dyed the "color of moonlight".

ThenIwenticingcrazyandforgottotakeanypicturesoftheprocess. Phew. This is post icing.....it's a crumby crumb-coat, I know, dang crumbly cake.

I got his idea from a "How To...." channel on YouTube. I used pieces of the carved cake to create pleats, that once the fondant was laid, would create a full look to the dress.

The finished icing project.

Just a little "real life" shot of my kitchen.

The next morning (the day before the party) I brought the pre-made marshmallow fondant (that I also dyed a lovely blue) our of the freezer a while before I planned to work with it so it wasn't rock solid. I was told numerous times to use copious amounts of corn starch on the counter and I'm glad I listened. I used some on my hands and rolling pin as well so I didn't have any issues.

Then I evenly rolled the fondant until it was about 1/4 of an inch thick......

Then I got my hands and arms underneath it for support, and draped it over the iced cake. I smoothed it out, used a pizza cutter to trim the edges (up to the edge of the platter, not the base of the dress) and then used a dry, rough cloth to get rid of the starch residue and then squished Cinderella in! The reason I left the bouffant out of the plastic wrap was so that it could sit overtop of the fondant and make the transition from doll to dress a little smoother. I used sewing needles to discretely pin then down.....

THEN.....(I know, you've left to grab something to eat, you've been sitting reading this post for so long) then next morning I made (a mess) a batch of royal icing and proceeded to (try) ice swags on the dress. I just couldn't seem to get the consistancy right.
But, the end result is just perfect.....

Happy Birthday Canada & A Reflection On Fireworks

2011-07-12T12:11:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Canada Day.
I love big crowds. I love the energy they create. I love the bustle and the excitement.
Our day was almost over before it began when we arrived at C&K's house (where we were to meet D&B and the girls and M, B and G) and found out that K* had gotten a call from a mutual friend (who's hubby is an RCMP officer) to tell her that there was a bad accident and the road to get where we were going was closed. After about 45 minutes and dozens of calls, we got word that there was a detour, and even knowing we'd sit in traffic, our four-car-convoy hit pavement. The trip that should have taken a little less than an hour ended up taking two, but with the sun shining, windows rolled down and the stunning mountain pass view, no one was complaining.
We met up with a few more friends at a lovely beach park and BBQ'd, played baseball with a group of Australian tourists, tossed around a football (my arm was sore for days) and a frisbee and soaked up that sunshine!

:: My hubby, the grill-master ::

:: The lovely Auntie K* and Paisley's little buddy Gracie ::

:: Paisley having a chat with Uncle C* ::

Just before 7:00, we packed ourselves up and booked it westbound, found a pay-parking lot and then made the two block trek to our hotel. Yup, H-O-T-E-L. You see, we've know these two people, who are great and we like them a lot. They took the initiative to rent a two-story penthouse suite in a downtown hotel for the night so that we could all have someone to sit, hang, let the kidlets roam free from their strollers and watch the fireworks. In a word: INCREDIBLE. I think the overall consensus was that it is our new tradition.

People.....yeah, like 40,000 of them. A sea of red, white and CANADA ROCKS!

There's something magical about fireworks. Something that causes silence, demands attention and almost respect. I sat on the lower balconey on a plastic lawn chair snuggling #2 while the mister had #1. The first *crack* pierced the air and all fell quiet. Movement stilled. Eyes widened. About halfway through the show, during a brief cessation of the light and thunder, I stopped for a moment. I took a breath. I looked all around me. I quickly thought back to the almost a dozen Canada Day celebrations I had taken in, at this very harbour, over the past 17 years. It struck me how different my life is now. How much I've changed and grown and the crazy wonderful journey I've been on. I realized that in just five or ten mintues, the fireworks would stop, the applause and cheer would arise then die off and then the magic would be over and that moment I was in would be forever lost. So I held my daughter a little tighter and memorized the faces of the amazing people around me and made a choice to seal that moment in my mind. Just finally having the chance to sit and struggle to find the right word to express my emotions, causes my heart to well-up and burst with joy and gratitude and thankfulness. Here, is to God moments in the midst of pyrotechnics.....

By the time we packed up, walked to the car, and slugged through traffic, we got home around 12:30 and, well, collapsed. Denay fell asleep about 10 minutes into the crawl with her hand in her snack container, trying to grab a chocolate teddy graham.
The day in a word: epic.

:: A Living Legacy ::

2011-07-11T11:05:00.000-07:00

My grandparent's were in town from Ontario. My dad's parents. My children's great-grandparents. It's amazing seeing them with my kids. It makes me wonder what it's like to watch the world change after over 85 years of life and 60 years of marriage. My grandma handles them like it hasn't been over 50 years since she's had a little one.
:: Paisley meeting her great-grandparents, and only living great-grandpa, for the first time ::

:: Paisley, Opa, Denay and great-grandma Ali ::

:: We celebrated Grandma's birthday while they were here ::

Number One's, Number Three :: Happy Birthday

2011-07-09T14:13:00.000-07:00

Phew.

Fresh on the heels of our all-day Canada Day celebrations (more on that to come), we were up bright and early and hit the ground running to get everything together for Denay's 3rd Birthday.

Keeping with what I've been doing since year one, I went with a color theme, which was blue and white and a little Cinderella.

The Cinderella dress cake lovingly pieced together by yours truly. Denay saw most of the process but I hid the final product from her and she absolutely loved it. You can see in some of the photos she put her arm around the Barbie's shoulder and gave her a side hug. And she thanked me and gave me hugs for days afterwards. Not to fear, I'm putting together a complete run down of each step in the creation process!

Presents time. She had just a couple to open as most of our friends brought money as a gift for Denay to start a KIVA account for her. I've been searching and searching for the right one to lend to and will be sure to share when we decide!

:: TEAM MaC (and yes, I made everyone dress in blue for the day) ::

What a great day! What a beautiful girl!

I Love It When......

2011-07-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

......a spur of the moment after-church conversation, turns into this......

In Focus :: Abolitionist Michelle Brock of Hope For The Sold

2011-06-29T21:30:00.000-07:00

Way back in March, I wrote this post about my very wonderful friends, Jay and Michelle Brock. We met them in the fall, and they proceeded to challenge and inspire me until they (very sadly) left to go back to Ontario to continue their life's adventures.

Michelle writes a blog called Hope For The Sold and fights to raise awareness about and abolish human trafficking and sexual exploitation and slavery.

I want to be true to who I am, and the life I lead on my blog. I want it to be both an expression and journal of the real, the genuine, the not-so-lovely moments and not feel the need to write about what I think people might want to read. But I also want to write about things that really matter. Things that break my heart. Things that encite righteous anger deep down inside. Things that make me feel helpless, because they are God-sized problems. I want to use this forum to do my part and raise awareness, even if only a handful of people read it. Sex and human trafficking is one of those things.

This post is a little lengthy, and pictureless (horrific, I know), but I would plead with you to read it to the end. Michelle is very articulate and I hope a little of what she shares, informs you, challenges you, brings you a revelation and nudges your heart a little.

What is an abolitionist?
My definition of an abolitionist is someone who fights to end slavery, oppression, and injustice. Despite the abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade in the 1800s, modern day slavery and exploitation thrive in every corner of the globe still today.
How was Hope For The Sold birthed?
Five years ago my husband and I took a group of teens to Catalyst Leadership Conference in Atlanta, where Gary Haugen from International Justice Mission spoke on modern day slavery. Afterwards, out of the 10,000 people who were at the conference, we received 4 out of 100 tickets to pre-screen a movie called TRADE. The movie was about sex trafficking and I was speechless for 4 days.
We started raising awareness in schools and churches, and in 2009 made a documentary about sex trafficking in Canada. This has been used by Canada Border Services to train their officers, author Benjamin Perrin in his Invisible Chains book tour across Canada, and Ms. Canada Tara Teng (who also happens to be a crazy passionate fellow-abolitionist!). I also write a blog about sex trafficking, with thousands of monthly readers. Clearly there is a growing movement to put an end to the abuse and exploitation of human beings!
What is your heart for human trafficking and sexual exploitation?
I was raised in Africa and witnessed poverty, AIDS, and injustice from a young age. But there is something specifically about sexual slavery that makes this issue more horrendous than anything else I could imagine as a woman. I believe that sex is the most intimate experience humans have, and to be raped for pay several times a day, with no hope of escape, is absolutely devastating.
My hope is to prevent trafficking from happening through raising awareness and changing legislation, and to offer hope and dignity to those who are vulnerable and exploited.
How do you keep going, day after day, battling such a huge monster?
(a) Jesus Christ - who helps me remember that both the trafficked and their traffickers are enslaved. Though there absolutely needs to be punishment for the trafficking of people, traffickers themselves need to be set free from the pain and sin that entangles them. God also helps me to remember that justice is HIS cause, and I do not need to carry it alone. I cling to his promise that He will equip me for every good work.
(b) My husband Jay - I need his encouragement DAILY. When I get discouraged or overwhelmed (happens often), he either gets in my face and tells me what's what, or listens to my rants and advises wisely. He keeps me dreaming, writing, and researching, and drives the vision of Hope for the Sold. In addition to this, Jay takes care of all back-end technical stuff with the blog, which I am severely challenged with!
(c) Close friends and family - My mom reads all my blog posts and insists that I attend important anti-trafficking events. One time my favourite human rights researcher came to speak at a nearby city and I could not go because I had to work for 9 hours that day. My mom told me to cancel my shift, paid for the lost wages, and covered my gas to get to the event! She can really put her foot down. Close friends are also extremely supportive, with their prayers and financial support.
(d) An amazing abolitionist community - Canada has some AMAZING abolitionists, and we are getting increasingly united and organized!
What is "fair trade" and how is it linked to the human trafficking industry?
Most of the products we use in North America are made by exploited labour. To keep their costs low, companies have their items made overseas, which lack adequate labour regulations and have poor human rights records.
Sex trafficking is only one form of human trafficking. Labour trafficking is a massive problem as well. Many of the people that grow and harvest the cocoa used in our chocolate are either not paid enough or are enslaved and forced to work for no pay. Some are children, who have never even tasted chocolate. Clothing manufacturing works the same way. Most factories have terrible work environments. Many cannot leave even if they wanted to, because they have been sold and are someone's 'property.'
Fair Trade products guarantee that the workers that made the product you are buying were not exploited in the process and are being paid a fair wage. I have stopped buying chocolate that is not fair trade, which is frustrating at times, but so worth it! I have also discovered the joy of consignment and used clothing stores, like Plato's Closet, which I am seeing more of lately. You can learn more about my thoughts on fair trade here.

It's all interconnected. The global economy undermines the ability of many in impoverished countries to rise up and make a real life for themselves. Increased vulnerability disproportionately affects women, many of who are trafficked for sex. We are all part of this chain based on what we purchase. The key is not to get overwhelmed, but to start with one changed action and see where it goes from there. I promise, it gets addictive!

What are some ways that you fight trafficking and exploitation and support fair treatment for overseas workers in daily life?
I only buy fair trade chocolate- my favourite is Coco Camino 70% dark...delicious! Jay only buys used clothes, except socks and underwear :)
In general, we try to avoid large for-profit corporations, and if it's a coffeeshop, those who aren't full fair trade... where we currently live, we'd rather go to Planet Bean or The Red Brick Cafe instead of Starbucks.
We also have a running boycott on Walmart. Their string of human rights abuses is huge, and their size allows them to continually slash prices (and quality) in the "race to the bottom".
As a rule of thumb, if a company is fair-trade, they'll let you know.
Local is better because local dollars stay in the the local community.
It all comes back to relationships - to suppliers, to store owners, to customers, and to the earth. Everything's connected, and we need to foster communities that are PEOPLE-first, not profit-motivated. When we do this, quality goes up, inflation goes down, and future generations benefit.

Any parting thoughts you'd like to make?
The key is to not get overwhelmed, but to start doing just ONE thing that makes a difference. For example, you can start by signing ONE petition at http://humantrafficking.change.org/. It actually takes just one minute. Or you can buy ONE item at http://freesetglobal.com/ to help support exploited women as they make fair trade products. Or you can try ONE fair trade Cocoa Camino chocolate product here (free shipping in Canada!) You could also boycott ONE kind of non fair-trade chocolate (ie. Kit Kat bar).
So the key thing to remember is ONE. Start with one thing, one change, one action, and soon it will not seem as overwhelming as it is empowering!

I hope you were educated. I hope you were inspired. I hope you were encouraged. I hope you can find ONE small way to do your part!

::: Random Lately :::

2011-06-29T17:42:00.000-07:00

:: at the park ::

:: spinning, spinning ::

:: more spinning at the park ::

:: swinging away (Denay's good buddy Chloe) ::

:: rockin' mamma's shaded ::

:: it's all fun and games until someone gets wet (which they both did, and they both cried) ::

:: future superstar ::

:: taking pictures of each other ::

:: she loves the piano ::

:: P* playing with her pal Gracie ::

~ Courtesy Of Denay ~

2011-06-28T19:38:00.000-07:00

Denay has a little Fisher Price digital camera that her Uncle Ryan bought her for Christmas.....it's been collecting images taken by her eye for months. Last week I uploaded them, and here is life, from the perspective of my three-year-old.....

{A Very Special Visit}

2011-06-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

Friends.
We are blessed with many, many really good ones.
Most we see weekly, some we see much less.
The M's are such friends.
Trevor and Darryl have been friends for years. He was the Best Man at our wedding, one of the first that got a phone call when our children were born, we flew out to Ontario (when I was just a few weeks pregnant with Denay) for their wedding in November of 2007.
They live out of province and we are rarely able to time out visits to the "commonland" and sneak in a visit.
Well, this weekend we got spoiled and had the pleasure of having this fabulous family over at our house. The visit lasted about four hours total, but what a time we had! Denay and Isabella bounced (and fell off of) rubber balls, we laughed, ate an entire 40 pack of Timbits ans shared lots of hilarious child and parent related anecdotes.
Here are just a few shots from our time....

This is one cute family!

Crafting

2011-06-25T19:42:00.000-07:00

A little while back, I posted about the major switch we made from two bedrooms, to a bedroom and a playroom for the girls. To answer the most common question I've been asked since then, things are going so very, very well. We have always played music for the girls while they sleep, so they are very used to not having quiet. So now, when one of them wakes up crying, we've found the other isn't usually disturbed.....and, never having a sister, I'm so enjoying watching them share a room together!
I had Paisley's name photographs from Alphabet Photography that I'd taken out of the frames in the (now) playroom and replaced them with black and white photos of the girls together. So I was left with the letters and knew just what I wanted to do with them.
Last week I had a few evening hours to myself, and while watching the five part Pride and Prejudice mini-series, I hauled out my scrapbooking paper, hot glue gun and ribbon, and this is what I came up with.....

{I went with a purple pattern theme, cause Paisley is my purple blankie girl}

:: I'm Going There ::

2011-06-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

I'm going to throw caution to wind and go for it here.

BUT, men be cautioned (if there are actually any men that grace my blog with their presence) that this post is all about something you probably don't want to know about: feminine hygiene. So, consider yourselves rightfully warned.

A few months ago, a girlfriend of mine (whom I mentioned in this post) posted a link on Facebook. I clicked on it and my immediate reaction was "Ewwww, gross". It was for a product called LunaPads, a washable and reusable cotton menstrual pad. I have never been a pad girl and have always disliked the idea of using them during my period. But after reading a little about them, I was so impressed with the idea and innovation and their incredible environmental friendliness. It was right up the road we've been taking trying to reduce our impact and avoid products that are less sustainable. But this particular product is not something I would use. As I continued to browse, I found a tab near the top that said "The DivaCup". Curious me clicked on it and was instantly intriuged. The DivaCup is a reusable, non-absorbant menstral cup that eliminates the need for tampons and pads by collecting the menstral flow. It's then removed, the contents emptied, washed and reinserted.

Again, my first reaction was a little "Ewww", but then I got to thinking about when I first started using tampons and it wasn't much different.

I put it off and forgot about it but then I finished breastfeeding, and certain things resumed and it wasn't long before I was wishing I was pregnant again. Within a day, I had ran out to the local organic market and picked myself up one.

So here's my review.

I love the idea of this! I love that I no longer need to purchse paper products or, when they are used, throw them away to be sent to a landfill. I love that it is made in Canada and is dye, chlorine, coloring and additive free. Their website draws a comparison between the switch many people have made from plastic bags to canvas bags, to the switch from tampons to the DivaCup. I've now gone through three cycles using the DivaCup and I'll be very honest I had a rough go with it. I was prepared that it was going to be a learning curve, but it took using it for two cycles to finally use it without it leaking or being uncomfortable. But now that I've figured it out, I LOVE it!

I would totally encourage you to check out their website. It was a push to figure it out but now that I'm learned, I will never go back! Because it's not absorbant it's not disrupting your natural moisture, there are no plastics or chemicals that are near or inside you body.

Check out The DivaCup!

In Recipes :: Rouladen

2011-06-18T12:03:00.000-07:00

What's better than a delicious and hilarious dinner with friends?
One where you not only enjoy the eating of meal together, but the making of it as well!
Last week we had friends of ours over for a long-overdue get together and Alana showed me how to make Rouladen (pronounced Roo-la-den). I had never heard of it but when I did it was all good and yummy!
One or two (if you're really hungry) will be plenty for each person you are feeding. This tutorial is amount and measurement-less so you'll have to do a little guess and eyeball work or Google a recipe.
Alana finely diced almost an entire onion......

And I chopped an entire package of bacon (I never eat bacon.....YUM)

Then you will need pieces of round or flank steak (based on how many people you are feeding) pounded about 1/4 inch think.

We covered the counter to minimize the mess. Roll the steaks out on the counter and season with salt, paprika, pepper and garlic salt. Just sprinkle it on. Then flip them over and season the other side.

Drizzle mustard.....

.....then sprinkle the onion and bacon.

THEN! Oh, then. Take a big ol' dill pickle, lay it at one end and start rolling!

Be sure so smile as you roll!

Lay them in a dish, cover with foil and bake at 350 for about 30-40 minutes. Cook it based on how you like your steak done. Alana poured some water in and made some gravy after as well. I know, it just keeps getting better and better!

Yum, yummy, yum!

Then all that's left is to enjoy. And we sure did. Even the next night for leftovers, and I don't like leftovers. On my husband's scale, it was a definite "make again".
Happy Cooking!

{Much Needed}

2011-06-17T09:33:00.000-07:00

I love my kids' hair.
My children have been follicly blessed.
Denay gets her hair trimmed enough to keep it healthy, but I'd never given much thought to really cutting it. Trevor and I were talking, and he suggested she get it really cut before it gets nice and hot (if that ever happens) so I rang up my good girlfriend who is a barber and before she got too amped up playing with her friends, it was in the chair and the hair started falling.....and falling, and falling.

It wasn't until I was editing the before photos, that I realized how long her hair actually was.
And the after! Another shot from our visit with G.G Rosie shows how cutesy and grown up she looks with her new do!

To Grammie's House We Go

2011-06-16T16:53:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we took great advantage of the Coast Saver savings and took our vehicle over for a weekend visit for a wedding and see Trevor's dad for Father's Day.

Cuddles with Grampy!!

The cousins......Auntie Shawna (I owe ya one!) watched my girlies while we were at the wedding and I stole a bunch of these photos from her.

We took Denay to visit her Great Grandma Rosie who was taken to the hospital last week. She pulled up the legs on her pants to show her how her knee bruises matched the ones on Grandma Rosie's arms.

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."
-Desmond Tutu-

:: Touch-A-Truck ::

2011-06-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago my dad, myself, Trev and the girls packed into our vehicle and went down to the Western Speedway for a fundraiser called Touch-A-Truck. We heard about it from a friend and made a last minute decision to go and were not disappointed. It was so fun to be able to get inside of fire trucks, ambulances, double decker buses, police cars, and lots more!
Denay (and some random kid) and the bomb disposal robot (so cool).

In the police car. Denay reminded me of the her "uncles" who drive police cars.

Taking a ride in the tree trimming bucket. She looks like a little a beauty queen, my beautiful girly!

My girls and I....and the bomb squad truck.

Denay in the Ambulance....

Denay sharing her tall tale about her ride that she took in the bus in September.

Paisley and Opa. Love.

My happy baby.

The MaC's.

Navy boat.....Denay had heard too many sirens and horn by now and had no interest in pressing any buttons.

Can't leave without getting our face painted!

Sweet, sweet baby.

Yay for summer! Yay for family outings!

Dayne&Amy=MARRIED

2011-06-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

Just a few piccy's from the wedding we attended on Saturday. The groom had been on friend of my hubby's for 15 years and he has known the bride for almost as long. Their wedding was at a farm, and the reception in a barn. Couldn't be more up this country-girl's alley! The quiet, the smell, the atmosphere, very much brought me back to growing up on a farm, making forts with haybails as a child.
Amy created a beautiful event with purple and country and peacock feathers made up the palate and I absolutely loved it!

Congrats D&A and thank you for including us on your day....we had a blast!

{A Special Visit}

2011-06-15T18:49:00.000-07:00

I've got great inlaws.

A few weeks ago, Trevor's parents got up at an un-godly hour, got on a ferry and were at our house at 8:00am. We had yummy cinnamon baked french toast (you can find the recipe here, thanks Pioneer Woman) for breakfast, enjoyed a play-by-play photo recap of my father-in-law's recent missions trip to Zambia then packed up and headed down to Victoria. It was a lovely day, and unbeknownst to us, there was a huge bike race going on so the whole waterfront was shut down to vehicles. We meandered, enjoyed the sun and buskers, had lunch at The Spaghetti Factory and made our way home again for supper.

Thanks Mum and Dad for wonderful visit....

:: Change VS Transformation ::

2011-06-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday at church, the Pastor spent a few moments to highlight one of the studies that was restarting this week called "Life's Healing Choices". One of the women who got up to speak, read a couple verses that God had given her while she went throught he study and one of them was Romans 12:2, which reads "Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good pleasing and perfect will".

I've spent the last few days rolling the verse over in my mind, and more specifically the word transformed. I started thinking about transformation.

I recalled that most often, when I'm seeking to be different in an area of my life, I'm asking God to change me. I ask Him to change me to be more like Him, change my attitude, change my outlook.

Change is far from being a bad thing, but I got to considering the difference between a change and a transformation.

Let's liken it to a home.

It's relatively simple to make changes around a house. Maybe hang some new picture frames, buy some new throw pillows, change a paint color. Maybe you'd go a little farther and invest in some new furniture or decor. It doesn't need to take a lot of time or energy. People would walk into your home and kindly remark about how nice it looks.

But to make a real transformation is much different. It takes tearing down and moving walls. Most often when those walls come down, more issues are revealed. Leaks, poor insulation, inproper construction. And once those problems are brought to light, they must be dealt with before the structure is covered again. Floors must be ripped up, ineffective plumbing and electrical must be updated. Rusty fixtures need to be removed and replaced, old worn carpet and underlay is torn up. Your furniture and life must be shuffled around to accomodate the efforts. It could take weeks, months or even upto a year. It consumes all your time, attention and energy. And when it's all done, we can't just move on and never give anymore time to it. It must be maintained and upkept. When people walk into your home, stagger back in astonishment and exclaim, "This doesn't even look like the same house!". They would wander around in amazement, remarking about every detail and how incredibly different it looks.

That's the kind of transformation I want in my own life.

I want people to barely be able to recognize me because everything old and rotten, damaged and ruined, dead and unproductive has been completely stripped away. The weak and feeble walls I'd tried to erect myself have been torn down to allow healing, forgiveness and peace to flow and restore my broken and reluctant heart to the pristine condition it was intended to be.

My God is the ultimate renovater.

"....being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ."

Philippians 1:6

{Wordless......Tuesday}

2011-06-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

Do It Yourself :: A Coffee Filter Wreath

2011-06-02T15:15:00.000-07:00

If you care to know the reason I've been such an absentee Blogger lately, this.......

......is why. Long story short, my SIL sent me a few of these handmade paper flowers on the gift she sent me for Mother's Day. I saw them again on a mutal friend's FB page and underneath the photo she had mentioned the Jones Design Co. website. So I checked it out and was immediately in love! Her tutorials page is absolutely jam-packed with amazing, fun and easy do-it-yourself home decor ideas. I opened the page for her coffee filter foof, and seeing the photo of the Nester's coffee filter wreath, ALL combined with being totally inspired by the homemade wreath hanging in the kitchen window over at Jones', I was going to have one.

This was my second go at it, as I had already made one for my momma (complete with butterflies), and I did find things moved along with a little more ease on mine, it sure took no less time!
I'll forwarn you that this wreath took me a good six (if not more) hours to complete, HOWEVER, I think the way I chose to roll my filters had a lot to do with that.
SO! Let's get to it!
I started out with a 12" wreath form I picked up at Michael's (but any size would work!)

Then I wrapped the wreath in ribbon and glued with a hot glue gun (you will need lots of glue sticks!). You could skip this step if you intend to hang your wreath on a wall or door not a window (where people will not see the backside) but I recommend it anyways to give it a nice, finished and crisp look.

THEN, you're going to want to start on the outer edge, right in the middle. So you're first row of filters will lie parallel to your surface....

I will confess that I took these photos after my wreath was done.
I had read a few different tutorials on filter wreaths and while I really like the full, foofy, big look of Nester's wreath, I was looking for a more tight, neat, flower look to mine. So this is where I made quite a bit of work for myself. Instead of scrunching up the filter, folding the bottom and gluing it down, I did this......

I folded the filter in half......

.......then in half again.....

.......and then one more time.

Then I trimmed about an inch off of the bottom on the folded filter......

Then with the filter folded just in half, I started with one end, and rolled it (quite tightly).....

......and keep rolling.....

........and rolling......

.......and you will wind up with a sort-of rosette. I would do about 50 filters in a row so that when I starting gluing, I could just keep going.

Keeping the filter rolled up, put a good sized dab of glue on the tip and press it to the wreath form. I found the first, outer edge took the longest because you'll need to hold the filter to the form until the glue dries, otherwise, the filter will slide out of place (waiting for the glue to set seemed to take the longest)

Once your outer layer is done, things move along more quickly because the amount of filter you need per round decreases and you are able to move onto the next filter before allowing the previous one to dry completely since it's resting on the layer before it. I also found that if you tuck the outer seam into the previous filter, it will keep it from unraveling before the glue is dry and allow you to move to the next one even sooner!
Again, it took me a ridiculous amount of time to finish it, but seeing it hang, in all it's glory in my front window, makes it ALL worth it!

Here are a few other sites I found with instructions:

12 Stone Dance - she laid her filters flat and glued the folded bottom.

A Glimpse Inside - she layered an inner, then outer circle and chalked the edge before she glued for a pop of color.

The Little Brown House - She used unbleached filters and scrunched and pinned them to her wreath form.

Live Love & Craft -She also pinned her filters.

Tanda Plain & Tall - Used a similar folding technique but didn't trim the ends.

Our Daily Chocolate - She used she same folding technique I did but instead of cutting the end off, she folded it up and then stapled the filters on.

Happy Crafting!!

{Switcheroo}

2011-05-26T09:15:00.000-07:00

I got up on Thursday morning last week, and as per usual, found Denay's bedroom door open along with Paisley's, and upon entering Paisley's room, found my "baby" doing this.....

My first thought? Picture.
My second thought? I need to lower the crib mattress.
My third thought? If I'm going to start taking apart the crib, I might as well go all the way and move it into Denay's room.
We had been talking about getting the girls into the same room sooner rather than later, because we figured the earlier we do it, the easier it would be.
Those of you who know me well, know what followed thought number three....screwdrivers and chaos.
My mom phoned in the middle of it. Both children were crying, I had broken one of the dropside brackets and my frustration level was rising by the second. So being the awesome mom she is, she came over and held Paisley while I quickly finished my mission.
It took the rest of the day for me to get completely finished but the day long blitz was well worth it.
I couldn't manage to find a before photo of both the girls' rooms before but what is now the toy room, was Paisley's room and both of the girls are now together in Denay's room.
"The Play Room"

"The Girl Room"

I still need to get Paisley's name frames off of the wall in her old room.....and I'm thinking something like this is in order for the alphabet photos.
So far, the girls are doing swimmingly with being together and are able to nap as long as they used to, and, thanks to a piece of spray painted corrugated plastic on their window, are sleeping well through the night.
One more transition that has seemed to carry off without a hitch!