Friday Letters {11.30.12}

Dear Husband, you're the best. You're my man and no one else can have you and your sweet love. I can't wait to find out what you got me for Christmas. It must be something I really want because you told me I couldn't look at the bank account. hmm...shouldn't tell me I can't look at things.
Dear Christmas, I'm enjoying all my decorations so I'm being patient and waiting for you. I don't like to take my decorations down. It makes the house feel so homey.
Dear People at Lowe's that put a dent in my car, seriously? I don't wish ill on anyone but you could have at least left a note saying you were sorry. Instead you just leave and act like you didn't do anything. grrr.
Dear Quincey Kitty, you seem to be enjoying the tree more than you did last year. If you could please stay out of it you would make momma very happy!
Dear Niece/Nephew, I can't wait to find out what you are. I want to start buying things for you but I don't know if you're a little princess or a handsome prince. I'm going to spoil the crap out of you! 5 more weeks...seems like a lifetime but it will come fast!
Dear Weight Loss, you and me are getting along pretty well. I'd like to become closer friends so that my neice/nephew will have someone close in age to play with.
Dear Husband, thanks for putting up with me this week. I know I wasn't the best of companions due to it being our due date week. I love you!

And the winner of the BlueBird Designs Bauble Giveaway is....

 

Mary @ A Happy Wife in NOLA! Mary I will be emailing you!

Thanks to all who entered! :)

Decorating with Epsom Salt

As I'm starting to gear up for decorating for Christmas, I realize that I don't want to spend alot this year on decorations. I would much rather make my own. I have fallen in love with the look of Epsom Salt. Not just in the bag of course, but the way it can transform a simple thing in to a GREAT thing.

 

These are some of the projects I will be trying this year. What do you think?

 

 

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Time to look UP!

 

As my due date quickly approaches, I have been dreaming about going in to labor. I'm sure it's because it's on my brain a lot. Ashley from Adventures of Newlyweds wrote a post the other day {here} that inspired me! It's time to look UP instead of focusing on the devastation of it all.

 

She is such a strong person and has been through a lot, more than I have been through and yet here I am sulking. Sulking in the fact that other people close to me are getting pregnant, starting to show, finding out what they're having, and picking out nursery colors. Shouldn't I be happy for them? Yes, I should!

 

I went through what Ashley was talking about, feeling guilty that I did something wrong and was being punished for it. Feeling like I'm not good enough, feeling like I'm NEVER going to have a child of my own. Yes, we can get pregnant but can we stay pregnant.

 

The devil is trying to convince me that it's my fault. If only I wouldn't have done this, or I would have done that then I would be able to have my child. But here's the thing, and I mean this in a non-condescending way, but there are people out there who have done a lot worse that are able to have babies. I need to be more positive about myself and have a better look on my own life.

 

You know there's plenty of room to think that our marriage isn't good enough, I've sinned too much, I've hurt too many people, the list could go on and on.

 

But the truth of the matter is. GOD FORGIVES AND FORGETS. He's not a punishing God. Right!? He has a loving spirit about Him and he wants to see us happy. He doesn't want to hurt us.

 

Lamentations 3:22-24 (KJV)

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion's fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

 

This verse gets me through a lot! It doesn't just pertain to me and having a miscarriage. It pertains to every day life. When things in the past try to creep up and make me feel guilty or not worthy, I have to remember this verse. His mercies are new every morning! We will never be more righteous than we are right now. He is my portion, I WILL HOPE IN HIM!

 

Time to get positive about getting pregnant again. The hubsand and I have decided to wait until I lose a little weight to try again, but we will try again.

 

So, I want to give others hope! This will be the last negative post I write on here about my miscarriage. Because we have HOPE! Next time you hear about it, I will be pregnant! :)

Tutorial Tuesday {Winter Bird Feeder}

I love bird watching in my backyard! That's why in the spring I created {this bird bath} and am now creating some cheap, easy, bird feeders for those birdies that stay around for the winter!

 

Materials Needed:

1. Peanut Butter

2. Toilet Paper or Paper Towel Tubes

3. Bird Seed

4. String, twine, rope, ect.

5. Paper Plate

6. Knife

 

Spread the Peanut Butter all over the tube. You can use a lot or a little, just as long as your whole tube is covered.

Pour your bird seed on to your paper plate. I used the winter nut n' berry kind from Wal-Mart. Cheap but give the birdies a little nutrition to store over the winter.

Roll your peanut butter covered tube in the bird seed. Make sure you get it covered as much as possible.

 Feed your twine, rope, ect. through the tube. Don't tie a knot in it just yet.

Here are my 4 finished tubes with the twine already strung through it. Ready to hang.

Tie your rope around a branch on your tree. Make sure you tie it on a branch that's close to another branch so the birdies have something to sit on when they're eating.

 

 

All done!! Now sit back and watch the animals enjoy your tasty treat!

 

 

BlueBird Designs Bauble Giveaway

Are you loving the new bauble necklace designs? I am! They are so cute and they dress up even then most casual outfit!!

Today Diane from {BlueBird Design} is giving away a $20 gift card to ONE of my readers!!!! She has an amazing selection of trendy bauble jewelry. I'm in love!!! Go check her out and pick out which one you're going to get if you win!!

Just in time for Christmas Shopping...she is offering 15% off to my readers. You have to use the code FALL2012 at checkout!!

 

*you must be a follower of the life of an "ordinary" housewife

via GFC*

mandatory entries:
-like BlueBird on facebook and leave me a comment you did
-like the life of an "ordinary" housewife on facebook and leave me a comment that you did

-visit BlueBird and leave me a comment telling me what you get with your gift card

additional entries {leave a separate comment for each}
-favorite BlueBird on Etsy

-follow the life of an "ordinary" housewife on twitter

 

don't cheat! I will verify if need be!

Good Luck! I will announce the winner on Friday {11/30/12}!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

 

 

Remember to be thankful today. {we should be everyday}

Somethings I'm thankful for...
1. my life
2. my God
3. my husband
4. my parents
5. my freedom
6. my country
7. all the military serving today and everyday and their families
8. my kitty
9. my home
10. food on my table
11. my job
12. my health
13. my church
14. my friends
15. all of you

I hope you're enjoying a feast of food! I will be stuffing myself to the tilt today!

Are you going shopping tomorrow? I'll be taking the day off from blogging to spend time with my family and friends. Possibly shopping?! If I dare!!

Wish List Wednesday.

{skirt, sweater, cardigan}f21 {boots} charlotte russe {eyeliner, foundation, concealer} sephora

 

My wish list for this month. I'm in need of some new makeup so I would be very happy to go to Sephora very soon!

 

Happy Hump Day!

Tutorial Tuesday {Two Thanksgiving/Fall Banners}

There's still time for some last minute Thanksgiving decorations. If you're like me and like to spend your money at Pick Your Plum then you have tons of craft supplies laying around. If not it's ok too. You can use paper or if you have a crafty husband/dad/brother/man to help you cut triangles you'll be set to go!

 

Materials Needed:

1. Some sort of triangle. Mine are wood but you could use fabric, burlap, paper, ect.

2. Paint {in any color you want}

3. Q-Tips

4. White Colored Pencil

5. Yarn, Twine, or Rope 

 

 

Pick the word/words you want to spell out. In my case I wanted to spell out "Give Thanks"

 

Trace out your letters before you paint them on. Remember pencil will erase but paint will not. I attempted this part several times before I got my spacing and letters exactly how I wanted them.

 



Paint your letters on with the Q-tips. This makes for soft looking strokes.

 

String them up and hang them high. 

 

 

 Banner #2. This one is more for fall but also goes with Thanksgiving too!

 

Materials Needed:

1. Bigger triangles made of same material used above.

2. Paint

3. Yarn

4. Q-Tips

5. Stencils of the word/letters you want to use

6. {Optional} Fabric for fabric flowers.

 

 

 

 Map out and tape your stencils where you want them to be placed. Paint in your stencil. I did a little modifying because I didn't like the way the seperated letters looked for the banner so I filled in the gaps using a straight edge to make them look uniform.

 

 

Then I added polka dots with the Q-Tips for added texture. I just didn't like look of a plain letter

on there. Then I made fabric flowers. You can find a great tutorial {here} For the flowers I used fabric that I had laying around and burlap.

 

 

Again, string 'em up and hang 'em proud!

 

 

 

Weight Loss Progress {week 2}

As you all know I'm trying to lose weight. I'm going to start posting my progress every two weeks. Unfortunately I didn't take a before picture in the same clothes I did this time, but here is the before picture I'm going to use....

 

This is the most hideous picture ever of me and for me to even be posting it on here means that I'm determined. My hair is greasy, I'm sun burnt, and large. Honestly, I look pregnant!

 

 I am not ready to post my weight but I will post my progress. From now on I will wear the same outfit so you can see the inches lost as well.

 

Starting date: 11/5/12

Goal Weight Loss: 55lbs

 

Today's date: 11/19/12

 

To date weight loss: 10 lbs

Friday Letters {11.16.12}

I seriously can't believe it's the weekend already. Time is flying by this year. I'm so not ready for the Christmas season. I love Christmas but another year has disappeared.

 

Dear Husband, I'm glad you traded last weekend to go riding for the last time, but I really wish you were going to be off tomorrow. I want to spend time with you.

Dear Said Time that is Flying by, slow down a little please. It seems like I haven't enjoyed this year at all. My 27th birthday is going to be here before you know it. I'm for sure not ready for that!

Dear Mom & Dad, I know you're going to be Christmas shopping soon. Please remember the list I gave you. I gave it to you for a reason. Altough I will love whatever you choose to gift me!

Dear Thanksgiving, I am looking forward to you next week. I will be writing you another letter next week probably hating you for making me so sick from eating too much. But that's ok. Let's enjoy the day together!

Dear Amie {co-worker}, please come back from Mexico. I'm so jealous of you right now that I don't want you to be able to enjoy it either. I am going to be soooo envious of your tan! But I hope you are having fun!

Dear Winter Weather, please just wait a little longer. I love fall so much and you're killing all the mums and making all the pretty leaves disappear.

Dear Husband, you're the best man I could ask for. You may not be perfect, but you're perfect for me.

 

the hubs and i at a browns game two weekends ago <3

 

 

 

This is what I love....

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

 

So, I told you I was going to still do things that I'm loving right now even though Current Crush kind of fell off.

 

I'm in looooove with ankle boots. I always have been. I don't know why but it's probably because I'm not a big fan of shoes in the first place and to have a big bulky boot on just doesn't seem like the right choice for me. Ankle boots seem like a "perfect fit" and I'm in love with all the ones above. Especially the first and last ones. But aren't those little peach rain boots the cutest?

 

Have a great Thursday all!!!

So, I've been thinking... {and that's dangerous}

So, I've been thinking about life lately. I feel a challenge inside to do something more with my life. I don't want to work for anyone...I mean who does really...but what I'm saying is that I want to be a business owner. I want to make a living off of something that I {or we for my husband and I} create. Something that we build from the bottom up. There's something stirring inside of my heart. I'm ready for change.

Change isn't always a bad thing. I'm a little scared of change some times but it's definitely a good thing. I don't want to be complacent with where I am in life. Not that I'm not happy with my life, but wanting something more. To be something better, I want a good life for our children.

That's another thing. I honestly don't want to work while our kids are growing up. Not that I'm lazy...I would gladly work from home. I want to be there when they have their first step, when they get their first tooth, when they say their first words. I don't want someone else raising our children, even if it's family. I know they would know that Mike and I are their parents, but its not the same. I want to teach them to read, count and write their name.

There has to be something that I can do at home or from home to make enough money that I don't have to leave the house to work. I am willing to do that...willing to still work...I would just rather do it at home.

Am I being selfish? I don't think so, but sometimes it sounds like it and when I tell other people about it they look at me like I'm crazy. I'm not being lazy because I'm still willing to work and make an income. Now a days day care is so high that I don't see the worth in me working for the same amount that we would be spending in daycare?! Right?! Please tell me I'm not crazy!

Anyways, back to the stirring inside of me. I want to do something that will make a difference in this world, maybe not completely the world but in my immediate reach. So, will you believe with me that when the time is right that things will fall in to place? It's all about God's timing of course and I want to follow along with that, I don't want to rush or try it in my own time. I'm not completely ready to reveal what's on my heart, but just stand with me that God will direct me in all the right ways. Soon enough I will be able to tell you what He has in store for this little world of mine.

Tutorial Tuesday {One Strap Burlap Tote}

Materials Needed:

 

1. Burlap

2. Lining Fabric

3. Ruler

4. Pins

5. Scissors

6. Iron

7. Sewing Machine and Components

8. Marking Tool {I used Sharpie for tutorial purposes}

 

 

 

Cut out your fabric. Your lining fabric is longer than the outside fabric because it overlaps to the outside of the bag.

 

Mark down 5" from the top of your outside piece {your burlap} and draw a line all the way across. Make sure it's straight because this will be the line you sew your lining across.

Lay your lining piece face down across the line you just drew. Again, make sure it's straight because this will show on the outside of your bag. Sew along the top using 1/4" seam allowance

 

 

Fold the piece you just sewed over so the right side is facing up. Iron flat. Top stitch all the way across what you just sewed using a 1/4" seam allowance.

 

 

Fold your piece over so the wrong side of your lining fabric is touching the wrong side of your burlap. Stitch acrossed the top using a 1/4" seam allowance.

 

This is what you should have so far. Do this for the other side of your bag.

 

Time to sew your two sides together. Layer 'em up. Make sure your two front pieces are lined up so when you sew them together and flip your bag right side out you have nice lines.

 

Layer with right sides together. You should have a lining piece face down, burlap face up, burlap face down, lining piece face up.

 

I drew my seam allowances on for you so you could see. You don't have to do this step if you don't want to. It helps to keep your sew line straight though. Pin and sew using a 1/2" seam allowance. 

 

Snip your corners and flip right side out. Make sure to poke out those corners so you have a crisp look. Also trim off any excess fabric you have. Make sure not to cut in to your stitching when you're trimming.

 

 

This is what you shoudl have thus far! A complete bag with no handle.

 

Time to make your handle. I wanted my handle nice and wide so I cut my fabric piece 8" x 30" and folded it in half length wise with right sides together and sewed up the open side. Then flip it right side out and sew the ends under using a 1/4" seam. If you want a full tutorial on how to make the handles you can go {here} where I show how I make all my straps.

 

Now to sew your strap on to your bag. For this bag I just wanted one strap, but if you want to you can follow the above tutorial.

 

Turn your bag back to inside out. Measure down two inches from the top of your bag where your seams are on both sides and pin your strap in place. Make sure you are centering your strap over the middle of your seam.

 

Sew acrossed the top bottom and both sides. You can use an "X" pattern to sew this on as well, but I didn't want that look on the outside of my bag so I just sewed a box.

 

And you're done. Super easy. These would make great Christmas presents, you can customize them, make them bigger or smaller and different colors. You know my moto...."Be Creative"

 

 

Sorry for the blurry finished product pictures. I am having troubles with my dlsr and so I had to take them with my phone.