So did you ever hear the one...

about the kids from Utah who decided they were going to go to Seattle when Kurt Cobain died to attend his funeral? Well, seriously that was kind of joke on the radio stations around here back when Mr. Cobain passed. Unfortunatly, it really happend and my little brother Ryan was the driver of the group of kids on this little adventure. I have to tell you about my little brother, he is very handsome and amazingly talented in so many ways, I really think he could have been a movie star if he would have persued it. Instead he persued drugs. I am not kidding when I tell you that literally one week before Kurt Cobain died my brother stood at my niece's blessing and bore his testimony. So you can imagine our families shock when he took off on his little excursion. Honestly, the little trip was just the beginning of a long and difficult journey for my baby brother. Drugs really took a liking to him. But this is really a story with a happy ending, my brother is now a college student very close to graduating with a job on the other side of the camera. He does the filming and editing and all that fun stuff. The very best part of my story though is this....

Ryan and his love have been blessed with this little angel. She is so lovely and amazing. The moral of the story is this- no matter where life takes you, you can make changes and when you do you are rewarded with the greatest blessings. I am so unbelievably proud of my little brother. I love his little family so much.

Name blocks...

What a great long weekend! I got so much done and even finished two sets of name blocks.
The first set I did for my little grandie Taylor-

The second set I did for my little grandie Rayden-

I am so happy with how they turned out and they cost me less than $5 to make both sets!

Have a great week!
Until later,
Hugs,
Shelly

Organizing the makeup station...

So I was minding my own business the other day when I came upon this -

and this, I am so ashamed ;)

Seriously, how can one ever expect to put on a decent face in that mess? So I got to work and found some organizer containers and before you knew it we have this-

this-

and this-

How much better is that? It feels so much better to not have to scrounge through a disaster to try to get pretty!!

Until later,
Hugs,
Shelly

Craft room redo...

I had been working on my Craft room redo for quite awhile and had it just about finsished it when I got some new information...my oldest son and my two year old grandie Rayden were moving home on New Years Day! It is fun to have a little one running around but I do miss the space and my Dining room now looks like hoarders are living in my little cottage! I do have some pictures of some of the things I had done to share though, so I hope you enjoy- This room will again some day be my craft and dressing room, hence the sign on the wall-

I love this little shelf vignette with candles, ribbon and bling! Aren't the glow in the dark moon and stars and the sun mirror fun?!

This wall holds most of my organization stuff- my ribbon organizer, my paper drawers, my sewing machince and my homemade white board and magnet boards-

I loved how this room was evolving and I can't wait to work on it again, but for now I am just going to enjoy my grandie!

Until later,
Hugs,
Shelly

Pink lamp redo...

While I was in the process of redoing my craft room, which will soon be another post, I decided I needed a little lamp for the room. It had to fit 2 criteria 1. It had to be cheap 2. It had to be adorable.
What do you think?

I started with this -

I spray painted a lamp shade Krylon Ballet Slipper, which I already had. I attached flowers that I made awhile ago and Walla! It is both cheap (paid 2 dollars for the lamp at the DI) and adorable!
Here are some more views -

I really do love it!

Until later,
Hugs,
Shelly

Happy 2012!...

I have come to realize that my favorite holiday, next to Easter of course, is New Years Day. I really think I like them both for the same reason, they both feel like a time of new beginnings. Things are fresh and new, it is always a great time for starting over. Also, I love, love lists and what better time of year to write 100 lists?!! JK, maybe not 100 but a few or more, we will see!!
First list - New Years Resolutions 2012

1. Be completely prepared for Christmas by December 1, 2012.
2. Lose 10-15 lbs.
3. Be financially responsible.
4. Pay off my three piddly bills. (I know you all know what a piddly bill is!).
5. I will not buy another purse in the entire year of 2012! (Yikes!, that will definitly be the hardest to keep!)
Second list - Wishlist 2012

1. Cricut Create
2. Dress form
3. 3 or 4 family tables
4. Sewing machine fixed or replaced
5. Massage chair attachement

Well today it was two lists but I assure you there will be more!
Until later,
Hugs,
Shelly

Birthday weight loss goal... ACHIEVED... Yay, Yay, Yay....

Happy Birthday to me!!! I set a goal at the end of August to lose 25 lbs by my Birthday and I did it! I am so happy, so proud of myself, so excited!!!
Here I am now

Here I am at my highest

Just a bit of a difference, don't ya think?
Another after pic-

Not to much further to reach my end goal, Yay!!
Well I think the hubster is getting my new camera today, so I should have oodles of pics coming up soon!

Until later,
Hugs,
Shelly

Fibromyalgia...Whew!...

So it has been awhile and I have missed you all so much! I know that from the title you would think this might be a sad post, but NO!! I did get diagnosed with Fibromyalgia but I am actually so relieved to know that I am not crazy, that what I am feeling is real and most of all that this is managable and more than likely without drugs!!

I have been working on so many things around the house so I have much to post and I am hoping with a little luck I can get some things blogged about!! Also, my Birthday is coming and I have been hinting, you know the circled pictures, the notes on his steering wheel the constant nagging, haha jk, but the hubster definetly knows this little wife wants a new camera! So hopefully the pictures posted will be much nicer in near future!

Its so nice to chat with you all again, I have missed you all so much!

Until later,
Hugs,
Shelly

Friday thoughts..

I really have so much to share but I have not had a chance to download my pictures so stay tuned cuz next week is going to be full of pictures and projects!

Until later,
Hugs,
Shelly

Something that I am thankful for...

I am so thankful that I had good teachers in school. The hubster just went back to school on Monday this week and he is finding that he never learned some of the most basic of math. He doesn't know his multiplication tables. I find that so crazy because I remember so clearly learning that in 3rd grade. Thank you Mrs. Thornock!! Teachers have such a dramatic input on our lives and if they value that than we have to be so grateful and thankful. I can truly say that I can only think of having one teacher that I didn't completely appreciate. Also, I tried very hard to make sure that the teachers my kids had to deal with were only the best, of course this was not always the case but they did know that I was always an involved parent, which I am positive makes a difference in how your child is taught. Did you have great teachers or do you have any bad teacher stories to share? I would love to hear them.

Until later,
Hugs,
Shelly

Wednesday Wow...

I am going to throw out my Wednesday Wow to the amazing people who work with the homeless community. I work on a committee with many agencies who work diligently to help people who are temporarily homeless to those who are chronically homeless. I am amazed at their dedication and at the changes that are being made because of them. We all should think about our homeless especially at this time with the holidays coming up. Remember even your smallest contribution is incredibly helpful. Drop a can of food off at your newest food bank or even better donate a turkey.

Until later,
Hugs,
Shelly