nesting

apparently, nesting has begun. i spent an hour and a half cleaning two rooms yesterday. don't know if it's because i'm slow as molasses or just that they were THAT dirty.

i've been wanting to change around our room, so hubby helped me rearrange it last night. not only does the room look SO MUCH BIGGER we were laughing so hard we were crying in the process. LOVE THAT MAN! once i get it decorated, i'll post some pictures.

today i plan to tackle the living room, bathroom and L's room. then the entire upstairs would be done with the exception of the master bathroom, which is almost complete (yay! shout out to hubby and aaron) and C's nursery, which is a project i can't wait to get into it!

latest pool progress

they had to call in a bobcat to get the rest of the concrete up...it was crumbling too bad. most of the fence is gone. lookin kind of sad out there right now, but i know it'll look great once it's done.

personalized paper lanterns

i could not be more excited about this project. i mentioned it the other day...it was featured on Dollar Store Crafts, HOWEVER...i have put my twist on it.

i think i mentioned that i have the kids decorate a paper lantern at the beginning of each school year to be hung from the ceiling for the year. 1--it decorates the room for the ENTIRE year and i don't have to really worry about anything else! 2--it allows the kids a way to express themselves so that i can get to know them and a way for them to display their uniqueness.

so, i saw the tutorial the other day and wanted to try it to see how it could work for my classroom. This is going to be FABULOUS! it's cheap (i probably already have all of the materials i will need), it'll be a fairly quick project, it's gender-neutral, completely unique to each kid!

Materials: 12 x 12 scrapbook paper (8 x 8 if you want them smaller)--use patterned paper so that when the lantern is done it will be decorated on the outside AND inside!
tape or stapler
scissors
scraps of ribbon
markers or colored pencils
old magazines for students to cut out images
glue sticks

Process: Have students decorate the WHITE side of the scrapbook paper however they want. (I am going to require mine to put their name somewhere on it and then i will suggest that they include things they like, sports they play, etc). When dry, hotdog fold (long ways) the paper. At the fold cut parallel strips toward the open end leaving a 1/2"space at the top. Roll the paper and bring the ends together with the fold in the middle...you should see the shape coming together. Overlap the two ends and tape or staple together. Tape or staple a scrap of ribbon at the top. Voila!

more owls

cool wedding gift

this would be a cool wedding gift: http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2010/06/quillled-monogram.html

paper lanterns

at the beginning of each school year, i have the kids decorate paper lanterns to express themselves and they hang from the ceiling until the end of the year. typically i order the lanterns from oriental trading, but thanks to Dollar Store Crafts, i think i have a new idea...and cheaper!


http://thesaltypineapple.blogspot.com/2010/06/heather-mann-dollar-store-crafts.html

I think I will give the kids a sheet of white paper to decorate in a way that expresses themselves and then a decorative piece of paper to put in the inside for some extra color.

REALLY excited about this...can't wait to give it a try!

nursery ideas

so, i've been on this owl kick lately and definitely want to put owls in the nursery. here are some of my inspirations.

it's a...

G I R L !!!!!!!!!!!!
Lot's of craftiness in store for the future. This could be very dangerous for our wallets!

polka dotted toes

pool re-vamp

so we got jealous of all of the bulldozers and such next door, so we decided to get a jack-hammer and bob-cat of our own going over on our property. Can't wait to show you the after pictures...looks like it'll be a week or two though.