Is it Weird that I'm Stalking Cookware?

So, I just wanted to share a couple of things that I've been obsessing over lately, and I'm just being totally honest... I need to stop!! HAHA!! :)

For those of you who started reading my blog back in the dot matrix days (LOL) know by now I may have developed an obsession for teal/aqua (whatever you call it... I LOVE it). So, it probably stands to reason that every time I go to Wal Mart my breath is taken away every time I see these:

{Paula Deen Signature Porcelain 12pc Cookware in Robin's Egg Blue}

EVERY TIME I got to Wal Mart, not matter the mission, I track my route through the store so that I may go by them & drool... For Christmas, my sister got me the 9x13 version of this. She totally has fed into my obsession... Everything I bake in it is just SO MUCH PRETTIER!! :)

Oh, and it doesn't end there... I am wanting ALL of her cookware & bakeware in this color... It's ridiculous, I know, to worry & want so much... But I do...

Then, there is my other obsession...

{Cricut Machine in Teal}

HOW PERFECT IS THAT?!?!?! I know, I know, I'm obsessed. But, again, every time I make a trip to Wal Mart, I "conveniently" walk by this... And drool. It's not pretty, people.

So, this, my friends, is sharing that I have an issue. Please pray for me. ;)

Talk to ya'll later :)

If We're Gonna Be Craft Buddies...

If we're going to be craft buddies, let me get a few things out of the way.

1. I do not measure. Anything. Eyeball it, baby, eyeball it. And, if it's absolutely necessary, measure with an inanimate object, not a ruler.

(necklaces, decorations & favor boxes I made as party favors for my daughter's 6th Birthday party)

2. Sewing machines make me break out into a cold sweat. I have visions of 7th grade Home Ec. when we had to make gym bags. My breakthrough combination of red vinyl-ly fabric (calling it fabric is a stretch!! haha) and purple woven straps... Let's just say I was ahead of my time. I am looking into taking some *ahem* refresher sewing lessons... We're getting a Super Jo-Anne's (yes, Virginia, they do exist!), and I am thinking of facing my fear... *seriously breaking into a cold sweat*

3. I {heart} hot glue guns. Really, if I need to go into more details without you finishing my sentences, I don't think we can be friends!! LOL :) (totally just kidding...sorta)

4. I also {heart} patterned paper. I am currently banned from buying any more right now. Every time I look at that big pad of My Mind's Eye paper stack I start to drool. It's not pretty. Hobby Lobby will from time to time put it 50% off... which leads into #5...

5. I {heart} Hobby Lobby, mostly because I live less than 5 minutes from mine. And their coupons... I love you, 40% off any one regularly priced item.

(I know, awful picture, but it's a rusty star I painted & distressed for my son's room)

6. I am corny. Embrace the dorkiness.

7. I am a sloppy crafter. I currently just got done with a project, and I think I got more sand on me than on my project. I just piqued your curiosity, didn't I?

8. I am an insecure crafter. I am constantly worried that what I make looks like something I've made... Ya know, not exactly pulled together. And, I know this is a reality because I have failed. And failed. And failed. But, I like learning through doing. Sometimes there's just a learning curve.

9. I love to stalk read other crafty/mommy/homeschool blogs, and will often direct you to those who inspire me. Sharing the blog community love. Because bloggers rock.

10. I may or may not start an etsy store. I'm nervous about putting my stuff out there, because $money$ talks. (see #8).

(Fall wreath I made this year)

I am so looking forward to being a part of the crafting blogger community!! I can't wait to share my first "real" project. Be looking for it soon!! :)

Merry Christmas!

{Note: All projects shown were from this past year!!}

I {Heart} Fall

I love this time of year!! The weather getting cooler, the hoodies come out, and the anticipation of Christmas starts like a little whisper in the wind...

I know, a little mushy from me, but this time of year brings it out of me!! LOL :)

I have to share my latest creation. That's the whole reason I set aside time to post!! HA!! :) I am so proud of myself!! It's the first wreath I've made that doesn't scream "First Timer" or "Hobby Crafter"!! LOL It's simple, not too overdone, and it has one of my favorite trends...MONOGRAMS!! :) LOVE IT!! :) I can hardly believe I made it!! :) LOL

OK, here are pics :)

Since I haven't shared a whole lot from this past summer, let me give you a peek at what it looked like!! :)

Happy Fall, Ya'll!! :)

I'm So Random...

OK, I give up... You can read here to hear all about the last day of the cruise. Missy did a great job of recapping, and frankly, I've got a lot more things to blog about!! HA!! :)

Where to start? How about homeschooling? We've already started, more to get a feel for what kind of schedule will work best for us than anything. We're finishing up the reading book we started last year, and Abbey's just doing great!! I've got to say, it's a perk I never even thought of, but knowing that I taught her how to read is incredible!!

I've also found some great new homeschooling blogs, and I'm planning on doing a "links I've found" post soon to share all the exciting & creative ideas mommy bloggers are coming up with!! It's so much fun!! :)

This coming weekend is Labor Day, and of course, for us that means taking our annual trip to Somerset, KY. We went down about a week and a half ago for a funeral. A patriarch of our family, Great-Uncle Verrel, passed away from cancer. It was an honor to sing at his funeral along with my favorite voices to hear on the planet, my family. I hope that we offered comfort & peace to everyone grieving. His passing so close to reunion will make it VERY different "on the hill" this year. So many of my childhood memories exist because of his hospitality.

It was a good quick trip down & back, though. I really love hangin' with my family. I love the talking & the laughter & the sharing. They are such a blessing to me!!

We girl "cuzfrenz" went out the following night @ Cheesecake Factory... Oh, CF, how I love thee... Anyways, it was more of the same, giggling, talking, sharing, I just love my cuzfrenz. Yes, it is now a word.

I will be sharing links next time!! There are so many cool things happening in blogger-world...and I'm afraid that I'm passing on my addiction to others!! LOL Last weekend I was talking to my cuz Andrea & she was saying, "Thanks. I'm addicted to blogs, now, because of you." LOL I asked if she had her own blog, & she said, "No, I think it would stress me out!" LOL Just wait... She'll show up in my sidebar soon enough!! HA!! :)

The Adventures of Spray Painting

I admit I have not used spray paint much. I don't know much about it other than it's stinky & nice when you need it for graffiti... But, I have decided that I need to buy stock in a spray paint company, because the 'good stuff' ain't cheap & the cheap stuff is EXACTLY what graffiti artists use.

We went to Wal Mart last night because I wanted needed to get spray paint for the craft I mentioned yesterday. So, we went as a family (NOTE TO SELF: DO NOT TAKE KIDS TO WAL MART AFTER 8:30p.m. We were *that* family last night) because we needed to get more than just spray paint, I needed to get some other stuff for this weekend.

SO, off to WallyWorld we go... After the worst trip to WM I have ever taken with my kids, we left with no spray paint (I did get cake mix, though!! That was on the list!!) First of all, their selection STUNK!! I found ONE primer, and it was GRAY!! I needed, of course, NOT gray!! And, do you think they had any colors I needed? Either teal/turquoise & hot pink are VERY popular (& really, why shouldn't they be?!?!), or WM's selection was awful. Their prices on Rust Oleum or whatever was really good, though...

Today, I decided to take the kiddos to Hobby Lobby (they had, after all, gotten a great night sleep, right?!?!). Their spray paint prices were kinda painful...and the cute little bottles of spray paint were the EXACT colors I needed, but will only paint something the size of a thimble.

The kids were actually REALLY good @ Hobby Lobby, and I left there with baby cans of spray paint & a WHITE primer... (NOTE TO SELF: DON'T BUY IT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE 40% OFF COUPON!!).

I laid out my drop cloth on the patio (you're welcome, Steve ;) I would find nothing wrong with turquoise & hot pink concrete, but I don't think he'd appreciate it!! HA!!), got my little treasures ready, already envisioning their metamorphosis into cuteness. Shook my primer...sprayed...and then there was.....NOTHING. The primer didn't come out of the can. So, I will be going back to Hobby Lobby, because I am NOT going to eat $5 for a can of paint.

Now, it's naptime, and both of my kiddos are asleep (Abbey is taking a self-initiated nap...I'm a little flustered!! HAHA!!), and my hour/hour & a half that was supposed to be spent spray painting? Gone... I'm kinda at a loss as to what to do, now!! Abbey might have the right idea!! HAHA :)