Through the Eyes of the Mrs.

New Years Eve with Kids!

2014-12-26T10:59:00.000-05:00

DIY Chalkboard Frame Christmas Ornaments

2014-11-24T02:00:00.000-05:00

Our living room tree is filled with framed Chalkboard ornaments. I had a vision of white and black. Handmade Pom Poms, White Lights, Snow filled ornaments, and of course white pom pom trim as the garland. I envisioned beauty and simplicity.

I stopped at my favorite craft store to pick up wooden frames. They varied in price from $.78 cents to a $3. I decided to get a few different sizes and work some magic. These frames were untreated and ready for paint.

Begin by painting the outside of your frames in your favorite shade of white. I choose a winter white. Next use the back of your frame as your chalkboard. You may need to do a light sanding before you begin to paint this. I used chalkboard spray paint.

Allow both the frame and the backing to dry completely before putting them together. I picked up a few chalkboard markers from Target's dollar section and began to write my favorite Christmas sayings. I love them all so it was hard to decide but the beauty is you can change them whenever you like.

28 Days to a Happier Dog

2014-05-27T11:06:00.000-04:00

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Purina One, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #ONEDifference http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Hello there friends. I want you to meet our first baby Lexi. Before starting our family she was our only responsibility and believe me she was a handful. We literally called our vet because she decided to eat a battery as a puppy. I will spare you the details but let's just say she has always been a little ornery. Lexi has always wanted to be right beside us and I promise you if we would leave the house without her we would pay. Thankfully she has learned to wait patiently for our return.

Once we started our family she became like a second mother to them. She is still in and out of their rooms all night. Lexi has always played with the kids but as she reaches her senior years her energy has decreased. We decided to join the 28 Day Challenge by switching to Purina One. I'd love to see her energy increase and if her breath smelled a little better that would just be an added bonus. Is it just our pup or does yours have smelly breath too? I'm so glad she isn't a kisser but instead likes cuddling.

We switched Lexi a few days ago and let me tell you she was happy for the change. She isn't waiting as patiently as she used to in the morning and she eats every last bite. I think she was happy to finally have a new food. Now we will wait and see if her energy returns. Lately she has been such a lazy girl. It's sad to see her sleeping in the yard when she is usually running around.

If your family dog could use a change sign up to join the 28 Day Challenge with me and get your $3 Off Coupon! I'm expecting to see some happy changes.

Our Easter Weekend

2014-04-22T10:10:00.000-04:00

Our weekend was quiet and full of moments that I will be forever thankful for. These little ones of mine aren't so little anymore. Looking at this picture of our son makes me wonder where the time has went. He looks so mature and grown up. They spent the early morning eating chocolates and checking out all the new goodies in their Easter baskets. We got ready for church and off we went. After church we decided to take Lexi on a nice walk in the beautiful sunshine. We ran into an old friend and caught up. We shared an amazing dinner together and I can't wait to share our dessert with you. There are no words it was that perfect. How was your Easter weekend?

Switching to WordPress

2014-04-17T11:23:00.001-04:00

Hello there friends. I wanted to let you all know what's been happening here. I'm switching to WordPress! I would be lying if I told you that I was cool and calm about the whole thing. In fact I'm a hot mess. I'm feeling nervous and totally overwhelmed. I've been with Blogger for eight years now! That's a long time and I'm wondering if I just jumped off of a cliff. It's like meeting someone for the first time. I'm not sure what to expect but I'm excited.

I'm happy to say with the switch I'm also getting a new design. My style has changed and I want my blog to reflect that. I'm working on a simple and clean look with my designer. You can check out my Inspiration Board if you are feeling curious about the new look. I plan on sharing my experience and process with those of you that have been interested in switching once everything has been completed.

If you are used to following along through GFC please understand that I will no longer be showing up there. I would hate to loose you so please make your way to following along in other places. Thanks for all of your support and understanding during the switch and please be thinking of me as I camp out with my laptop. I promise I'm not normally a high strung person but I just can't help myself.

20 Sweet Easter Desserts

2014-04-15T08:07:00.001-04:00

Bird's Nest Cookies

Meyer Lemon Cheesecake

Bunny Tail Treats

Peanut Butter Cake

Carrot Cheesecake Cake

Easter Basket Cupcakes

Cadbury Creme Egg Cupcakes

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

Homemade Reeses Easter Egg

Key Lime Pound Cake

Bavarian Banana Tart

Easter Bunny Cake

Peanut Butter Blondie

Homemade Marshmallow Peeps

Chocolate Bunny Cake

Fresh Strawberry Yogurt Cake

Banana Coconut Cake with Honey Frosting

Dirt Pudding

Lemon Icebox Cake

Easter Oreo Bark

Dessert is my favorite part! I can't wait to get started on some of these sweet Easter desserts for our family dinner. If you are interested in pinning this collection please use the first image. If you want to pin a specific dessert click below and you will find the full recipe. What do you normally make for your Easter dessert?

Planning a Fun Family Night

2014-04-14T03:00:00.000-04:00

“This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Tony’s Pizza, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #tonyspizzeria http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV.”

An evening at home all together was just what we needed. After a very long week we were ready to let loose and have some fun! We started off the night by turning the radio up and dancing along to our favorite songs.

While shopping at Walmart I picked up some Tony's Pizza. Dinner doesn't get any easier than this. Everyone in our family loves pizza. I took advantage of Coupons.com and saved . $0.75 cents off 2 Tony's Pizza (while supplies last.) I'd say it was a win!

Just preheat your oven and toss the pizza's in. How simple is that? The pizza's came out nice and crispy just how we like it.

We gathered at the table and got ready for a little friendly competition. I added a long sheet of white paper down the center for us to keep track of our Pass the Pigs score. While playing along we stuffed ourselves full of Tony's Pizza.

Brianna couldn't wait to start eating and loved the supreme. I didn't know what to expect from a frozen pizza. We typically spend a lot of money at local pizza shops. It was really good and the price was amazing. I think we will be having Tony's Pizza a lot more often.

Nevaeh was excited to be winning the game. Of course not everyone was excited about this but it's all about teaching them to be gracious whether they win or lose.

We had an awesome family night that included a lot of laughs, great pizza, and a few tears when the game ended. It really took such little effort on my part and I'm happy to know we found our new favorite pizza at a great price.

Glitter Sneakers DIY

2014-04-08T11:40:00.000-04:00

What is better than a pair of Converse? A pair that's all sparkly of course! This year for Brianna's hip hop routine they asked the ladies to wear white glittered sneakers. I searched everywhere. Finally I decided we are making our own.

I couldn't find a pair of white converse anywhere. So instead I bought the pink from Kohls and bleached those babies. I used the Clorox Bleach Pen and set them in the warm sun. Soon enough they were white. I washed them twice and let them air dry before beginning the makeover.

Thinking of making a pair of your own? Here is what you need. Glitter, Mod Podge, Jewel-It, E6000, Rhinestones, Small Paint Brush, and a pair of White Sneakers.

I used the Rhinestones on the front of the shoe. I put a small amount of E6000 down at a time and quickly started placing the stones. I used a variety of sizes for this.

I used the tip of the Jewel-It glue to spread the glue evenly along the canvas. Once I covered a space with the glue I started to cover it in glitter. This is a messy job. If you are doing it inside I would use a dish to collect the glitter or take it outside.

After allowing the glitter to dry for 24 hours I took a small paint brush and sealed the glitter with Mod Podge. The Mod Podge dries clear and we didn't loose any of the fabulous sparkle. Once the Mod Podge dried she finally got to try on her new sneakers.

I'm sure these will become her new favorite sneakers.

Our Living Room Before

2014-04-03T11:54:00.003-04:00

I've been working hard to give our living room a makeover. Our home was built in 1928 and the woodwork is beautiful but it's dark. I'm ready to brighten up the space. Our furniture is from Ashley Furniture and it's so comfortable. I would love to have a white set!

Our coffee table holds all of our board games and is stuffed to the top. With everything from Monopoly to Pop the Pig. We love to have family game nights. We are still working on everyone's attitude with winning and losing.

I'm currently looking for two pieces of furniture to refinish to add to the living room. We Refinished our floors last year using Minwax. After a lot of hard work it turned out beautiful. I finally found a rug to add to the space.

Our beautiful Lexi will be happy to see our new rug in place. I'm sure it will be a softer place for her to lay her head.

I'm still struggling with a paint color for this room. Any suggestions? I can't wait to brighten up this space and add some new fun accessories. It's long overdue.

DIY Chevron Coffee Table

2014-04-01T10:37:00.001-04:00

I've been staring at our old coffee table for months now, trying to decide what I could do to refinish it and give it a new look. I finally made a decision and worked this weekend on perfecting my masterpiece.

This is the boring, standard coffee table I started out with.

I used Behr paint samples with a flat finish in plain white, Sequoia Lake (darker blue), and Americana Decor chalk finish in Vintage (lighter blue)--all from Home Depot. I used the polycrylic to seal everything once I was done.

I love all things chevron so I decided to go with a chevron pattern for the table. I cleaned the surface with an all-purpose cleaner first and then taped off my pattern using standard painter's tape. I did not sand the surface because I wanted some of the wood to show through and also because the paint already had primer in it so it wasn't necessary.

I painted three coats of each color to achieve the look I wanted. If you want to use less coats you can, but the paint strokes will be more noticeable.

I let the paint dry overnight and then painted the entire top surface with 2 coats of polycrylic to seal everything and make the top durable, since it sees a lot of use. And here's the finished product! I absolutely love how it turned out! I wish I wouldn't have waited so long to complete it!

We have a matching end table that will be painted next, but for now this has satisfied my DIY fix for the week. Now I'm off to find some coordinating pillows for the couch! What do you think of my project?

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Springs Handmade Wish List

2014-03-28T12:27:00.002-04:00

Washi Tape Holder from Already Memories

Mini Print Set from Pen and Paint

Rose Gold Lucky Elephant from Bip & Bop

Everyday Flower Garland from Aidies Hideaway

I'm Pretty Shirt from Pebby Forevee

Fine Feathered Clutch from Sew Sarah R

Live a Creative Life from Evie Ivy

Faux Suede Gold Bracelet from Adies Lovelies

Ribbon Burnout Tee from Two String Jane

Reclaimed Wood Planter Box from The Summery Umbrella

Cherry Blossom Soap from Seventh Tree Soaps

Easter Spring Bunting from A Fete Beckons

Rain Drop Latte Mug from Sprout Studio

Neon Friendship Bracelet from Hole In Her Stocking

Mint Faux Deer Antler Rack from Lucy Haus

Bowtie Headbands from Emily Gold

Beauty in the Brokenness from Barn Owl Primitives

Three Strand Statement Necklace from Nest Pretty Things

I Love Everything About You Hoop from Homespun Happiness

Instagram Pillow from Craft Squatch

Horseshoe Ring from Brute Beauti

Baby Deer Cookie Cutter from Sweet Estelle's Baking Company

Slow and Steady Turtle Stamp from Creatiate

Design Your Own Laptop Sleeve from Better Life Bags

Floral Print Dress from Fleet Collection

Want featured in Summer's Handmade Wish List?
Get in touch with me at throughtheeyesofthemrs@gmail.com

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What I Purchased from Ikea

2014-03-24T11:52:00.001-04:00

Our road trip to Ikea was so much fun. We always have such a good time together. We dance and carry on and I'm sure get a few strange looks from time to time. I was overwhelmed the moment I walked through the door. At one point I thought I may cry. It was either from anxiety or excitement or both. We managed to make our way through the showroom and made it to the marketplace.

What I Purchased

Pillow Covers

Bath Towels

Hand Towels

Shower Curtain

Shower Rings

Mala Drawing Roll Paper

Plant Pot

Artificial Plant

Animal Finger Puppets

Lint Roller & Refills

The kids took turns laying in the cart and spent a little time in the play land. We ended our day with frozen yogurt and cinnamon rolls. They were just as good as you said they'd be! Everyone had a great time together and even though I may have missed a few things on my list I think it turned out okay. My advice to first timers like me would be to take measurements! If you want organizers for your kitchen drawers measure them. If you might want new curtains measure the windows. Be prepared for a crowd on the weekends and make sure you grab a Cinnamon roll on your way out!

Have You Been to Ikea?

2014-03-21T09:08:00.005-04:00

living room

This weekend I'm finally making my first trip to Ikea! I've been waiting ever so patiently to make my shopping debut and it's finally here. I can hardly wait.

Stockholm Rug

White Step Stool

Chalk

I'm nervous that I will find myself overwhelmed with choices. That the kids will become restless and tired. What if it isn't everything I expected? What if I loose myself in one department and don't have the time to check out everything else. You see where I'm going with all of this. It's out of my ordinary which makes me totally nervous and excited at the same time.Wish me luck friends. It's a road trip kind of weekend and I'm getting out of town! Have you been to Ikea? Do you have any tips?

CANON EOS Rebel T3i DSLR Camera Giveaway

2014-03-19T00:11:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the CANON EOS Rebel T3i DSLR Camera Giveaway!

Who's excited for this amazing giveaway? Seriously friends if you are wanting to upgrade your camera now is the time to enter. I love my Canon. It was one of the best purchases I've ever made. It was life changing people and I'm not a photographer. I just take a lot of pictures and I need a camera that works with me and Canon does just that!

We've joined forces with an amazing group of bloggers to bring you this fabulous giveaway. One lucky person will win a CANON EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS DSLR Camera Lens Kit with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Zoom Lens and Accessory Kit, valued at $599.

Photographers looking for an easy-to-use camera that will help them create their next masterpiece need look no further than the Canon EOS Rebel T3i. The next in a long line of phenomenal compact DSLRs, the EOS Rebel T3i continues the Rebel tradition of easy operation, compact design and no-compromise performance.

Featuring Canon's newest DIGIC 4 Image Processor and an 18.0 Megapixel CMOS Image Sensor - plus cutting-edge technologies like Full HD video recording, Live View shooting, Wireless flash photography and even a Vari-angle 3.0-inch LCD monitor - the EOS Rebel T3i offers the best of EOS photography in a compact package. [Full Product Details from Canon]

Enter to win a CANON EOS Rebel T3i DSLR Camera Prize Package.

Complete the tasks below to earn entries into this giveaway.

Refer your friends using your unique link to earn even more chances to win.

Open Worldwide.

Ends at 11:59pm EDT on April 1st, 2014.

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This giveaway was coordinated by Giveaway Promote.

DIY Flower Girl Kit

2014-03-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

With our wedding fast approaching in July, I needed to get busy asking our little cousin Alayna to be the flower girl for our special day. She's only 7 so I wanted to have some fun and ask her in a way that she could really get excited about. I came up with the idea of a flower girl kit--a box assembled with some of her favorite items as a way to pop the big question to her.

I went to Hobby Lobby, one of my favorite craft stores, and purchased supplies to assemble Alayna's flower girl kit. Our wedding is going to be rustic vintage with lots of lace, burlap, and accents of blush pink so I made sure the kit reflected the theme:

Supplies

Cardboard gift box (big enough to fit your contents. For mine, it needed to fit a Barbie)
Tissue paper
Lace ribbon
Decorative flowers
Large gold stick letters
Glue gun

The first step to assembling Alayna's flower girl kit was to decorate the lid of the gift box. I began by placing the large gold stickers to spell out her name. I started from the right to the left, making sure I left enough room for the thick lace ribbon.

Once the letters were placed, I plugged in my hot glue gun (fingers beware!) and secured the ribbon to the front. I tucked in the ends of the ribbon on the inside of the lid and glued them as well.

Next, I took the decorative fabric flowers I'd purchased in our wedding colors and arranged them on the lid. Once I was happy with the arrangement, I secured them with hot glue. Once the lid was completely finished, this was the final product.

Next, it was time to put the goodies in the inside of the gift box. I set the tissue paper inside the box and included the Disney Tangled Ever After wedding bride and groom, purple flower earrings, and some candy buttons.

One of the last steps in assembling the kit was including an awesome free printable from The Wedding Chicks. They have a section of wedding printables that are really stylish and did I mention free?

I chose the free bridal party invites for flower girl, entered in my information, and the site automatically generated this adorable card that I could save to my computer and print:

In the final step I hot glued a clothespin on the inside of the gift box lid and attached my Wedding Chicks printable to the clothespin. Once she opens the box, the printable will be right there to ask her the big question: Will you be my flower girl?

This project took me approximately 30 minutes to complete and was a really fun way to create something special for Alayna that she can remember for years to come. The best part of this project was the picture message I received the night Alayna received her special flower girl kit:

If you want a unique way to ask your flower girl or even bridesmaids/groomsmen, this is a really fun idea. Now I'm off to make one for our ring bearer!

Enter the Mama in the Making Intro Giveaway!

Lucky Charm Treats

2014-03-17T08:50:00.004-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Our little ones woke up to find gold coins scattered throughout their rooms. These little leprechauns are ornery and always getting into mischief. I'm sharing a quick dessert idea that is a fun alternative to Rice Krispie treats!

Ingredients

1 bag of Mini Marshmallows
3 Tablespoons of Butter or Margarine
Green Food Coloring
Lucky Charms

Melt your butter or margarine and then add your mini marshmallows. Stir until it's completely smooth and melted. Add a few drops of green food coloring. Stir in your Lucky Charms until they are completely coated. Coat your hands with butter or cooking spray and press your treats into your pan. Cut into squares once it cools.

Clipboard Wall Art & Printables

2014-03-14T08:30:00.004-04:00

A fun and simple way to create wall art is with clipboards. They are inexpensive and you can find them just about anywhere. I purchased mine from Office Max. I wanted a place in my home for printables and the kids artwork. Something that I could easily switch out regularly without too much trouble. This is working out beautifully.

Download and print your printables today!

Beautiful Do Your Best Awesome

Mama in the Making Intro & Giveaway

2014-03-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

Meet my friend Rachael! She is one of the newest Contributors for Through the Eyes of the Mrs. and I'm thrilled. I've known Rachael for a long time. She is a creative soul and has a great sense of style and taste. I know that you will fall head of heels for her. She is a new mommy to a handsome little baby boy named Cooper and engaged to be married to the love of her life. She is a full time Teacher, Mommy, and loves a bargain.

Rachael is busy being a new mommy and navigating her way through this big blogging world. She will be sharing DIY projects and tutorials with you. At Mama in the Making you will find a little bit of everything. Projects, Parenting, and More. Just take a look at her kitchen remodel below. Now that's an amazing before and after!

Please help me welcome Rachael by entering below!

Visit the Shop and Enter FINAL60 for 60% off everything!

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$500 Spring Fever Cash Giveaway

2014-03-10T00:01:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the $500 Spring Fever Cash Giveaway!

It's Monday and what better way to start off the week then with a huge Cash Giveaway? We have joined an amazing group of bloggers to bring you this great giveaway. One lucky person will win $500 cash.

Enter to win $500 cash via PayPal.

Complete the tasks below to earn entries into this giveaway.

Refer your friends using your unique link to earn even more chances to win.

Open Worldwide.

Ends at 11:59pm EDT on March 23rd, 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway was coordinated by Giveaway Promote.

Homemade Laundry Soap

2014-03-08T11:55:00.002-05:00

Have I ever told you how much I dislike laundry? It's a never ending cycle of dirty clothes. With five of us it's a continuous job to stay caught up. I spend way too much money on laundry soap and I'm always looking for ways to cut costs. For years I've heard of making your own laundry soap, but I was nervous. Would it clean our clothes? Would it smell like fresh clean laundry? Finally I decided enough was enough and I was going to give it a try!

I picked up all of these products from Walmart and got to work. I used an old grater to grate the bars of Fels-Naptha. This soap is very hard. I microwaved each bar for 30 seconds and it became soft and easy to grate. I used an empty storage bin for mixing. I mixed a little of each product at a time and used a large spoon to mix them all together.

Ingredients

Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda = $3.24
Borax Detergent Booster = $3.97
2 Bars of Fels-Naptha = $.97 per Bar
Sun Oxi Cleaner = $5.47
Biz Color Safe Powder = $5.97
2 Bottles of Purex Crystals = $3.97 per Bottle

Total Cost $28.69

I used large glass jar to store the soap. It can be purchased from Walmart for $9.97. We have several of these jars in our home for storing different things. I painted a quick label out of chalkboard paint for looks. I have been told this should last approximately a year. I'm sure it varies between families and the amount of washing that you do. I'm curious to see how long it lasts for our family. I used a piece of tape and wrote the date on the bottom of the jar for future reference. For each load you are to use 1-2 tablespoons. The laundry smells great and I'm happy that I finally decided to give homemade laundry soap a try.

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DIY Fabric Hoop Wall Art

2014-03-05T07:52:00.000-05:00

I have been working on my new wall art for months. Collecting hoops and gathering fabrics. Some of these fabrics are new and others are vintage. I wanted it to be fun and colorful and full of different patterns. This is in our dining room which is also my office area.

We finally decided on a new color for this room. Soon enough it will be a fun shade of aqua. I almost choose a shade similar to an orange creamsicle. I'm making over my desk too. The black is chipping and I want a something brighter. Maybe I could find an old chair that I could reupholster and ditch this one.

My favorite part is how the hoops wrap around my desk. I promise you I had the most difficult time getting it just right. I have several holes that need to be patched and I considered starting over numerous times. I suggest laying the hoops on the floor and rearranging as you feel necessary. Hang each hoop using a small nail. The majority of these hoops have been thrifted. I paid anywhere from .25 to $1.00 for each of them.

I may have went a little crazy with the polka dot fabrics. What can I say I have a thing for polka dots. They make me happy. I carried the hoops onto the connected wall. I am planning on adding a few more here and there in time. I would recommend getting a lot of smaller hoops to fill in little spaces. They are the perfect size for any fabric scraps you are holding onto. Even if you have a collection of fabric go and pick out some new prints that you love.

I can't wait to finish this space and share it with you!

Was It Worth the Price Tag?

2014-03-04T10:30:00.002-05:00

I may be in way over my head. Truth be told I'm a little nervous. This beauty was sitting off to the side of a local flea market. It was priced at $45 dollars. I've been searching for an old dresser to use for our bathroom. This piece is full of potential. Underneath the chipping laminate is beautiful wood.

I wasn't going to pay the $45 price tag. It's all about a bargain even though I knew this piece was worth every penny. I told myself I wouldn't pay more than $30. As soon as the negotiations began he said can you do $25? I celebrated even though I immediately had buyers remorse. I quickly thought of all of the sanding and work that needed to be done.

After taking more measurements this piece is huge. It may be too large but I won't know for sure until I see it in place. For now I have a new project to take my mind off of all the responsibility weighing me down. Sometimes you just need a little escape and this project is exactly what I need.

What do you think? Was it worth the price tag?

DIY Jewelry Organizers

2014-02-28T11:06:00.001-05:00

We can all use a little more organization when it comes to our jewelry. A way to easily get to our favorite pieces for daily use. We don't want to forget about our favorites because they are tucked away in a drawer. Something that's pretty and functional. I've gathered a few DIY ideas from friends to share with you today. You can make any of these storage ideas yourself and your jewelry will thank you for it.

"Dew" It Yourself Jewelry Holder

Pottery Barn Inspired Jewelry Holder

Bulletin Board Jewelry Organizer

DIY Jewelry Organizer

Shabby Chic Jewelry Organizer

Rake Jewelry Organizer

Vintage Glass Knob Jewelry Organizer

Do It Yourself Jewelry Storage

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Luggage for Foster Children

2014-02-26T09:36:00.002-05:00

The Mr. and I have been spending a lot of time taking parenting classes. It's been a learning experience and I'm saddened by a lot of what I've heard. I've been moved to tears and laughter within an instant. We are currently in the process of adopting Nevaeh. It's been a long road and even though we have had custody of her for years we have a long road ahead of us. There are too many children without homes. They are insecure and each survivors. Some have come from families of abuse while others have parents who are Addicted. If you are new here addiction is a very real thing and our family knows all too well the hurt that comes along with it.

There are many reasons why families are separated and sadly some children may never be adopted. We have heard many horrific stories and yet so many stories that end with a happy ending. It's awful to think that these children have learned to not get too comfortable. To prepare for the worst. To think that they aren't deserving of a happy ending. One thing really stuck with me and I'm asking for your help. Most of the foster children don't own a suitcase. While transferring from one home to the next they carry their belongings in a black garbage bag. How sad to know that your entire life is in a black garbage bag. That you lost your favorite pair of shoes from one house to the next. That no other pair will ever feel the same because your birth mom bought you those for Christmas a week before you where removed from your home.

I'm asking for your help. Reach into your heart and take a look around your home. Do you have an old duffel bag or piece of luggage? I'm asking you to please take it to your local adoption agency or children services department. I promise you they will find a child who needs it. That one piece of luggage will mean more to them then you will ever know. It will be a safe place to keep the things that they have grown attached to. It's the one thing they can call their own. Please from the bottom of my heart take a look around your home. We can all do a little something to help.

The Wiegands

Quick Birthday Candle Makeovers

2014-02-24T09:02:00.001-05:00

Birthday's are special in our house. The cake is always our favorite part and the candle should be just as beautiful. Over the years I haven't found candles that I like. They never seem to match the celebration and theme. So instead of settling I give them a quick makeover.

For Dylan's eighth birthday we wanted something that stood out and I decided to give this boring red and white candle a classic look of gold. It doesn't take much effort to turn a boring a candle into something beautiful.

You can use a lot of different supplies to turn a candle into something spectacular including rhinestones. This takes just a little bit of patience but it's worth it in the end.

For every candle makeover you need to start with a cheap candle and an xacto knife. Begin by removing the outlining color of wax. Try to keep a smooth cut. The wax comes off quickly so be sure not to remove too much.

Make every birthday candle special!

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