Momma D and Da Boyz

My View Today #FebPhotoADay

2012-02-01T21:11:00.000-08:00

Many of my blogging friends did the January Photo a Day challenge, and I enjoyed seeing their pics. So I decided to participate this month, in hopes that I'll remember to pick up the camera more and take more pictures!

You can find more about the project here

So, without further ado...

My View Today

I was in the city for a blogging event today. It was unseasonably warm and a fabulous day to be out and about in New York!

Here's what is coming up:

Kitchen Update #4

2012-01-31T21:07:00.000-08:00

Things here have been busy. We are still working on kitchen updates as January comes to a close. There were some snags this week. The remaining drawer pulls that I ordered weeks ago still haven't come. Actually, I contacted the company and they are now backordered for another two weeks. Ugh.

The one project I have been working on ended up being a craft fail. The product doesn't work as intended, and now I am in search of something that will.

I've also made more work for us this week, as I went to give the pantry door a fresh coat of paint and realized that that had been done one too many times. So we took down the door and stripped the coats and coats of paint. We are almost finished sanding, and then we can paint.

Things that went right this week? We installed the tile backsplash and even got it grouted. We still need to seal the new grout and caulk the edges. I promise pictures soon!

Now that February is beginning we had to evaluate our 2012 plan. We wanted to concentrate on one room a month, which should mean we would be moving on to a new room. But with so much left to go in the kitchen we don't really want to move on. So we compromised. We are going to continue work in the kitchen. But we will also work on on our downstairs bathroom.

In November I started a specialty finish product on the walls in our bathroom. But Home Depot ran out of the product. We moved on to other projects, and it still isn't done. But the product is now in. So we will finish the paint in the bathroom. We also plan on stripping that door too, as well as changing out the door molding. Then just some decorative details and that room will be done.

With the short bathroom list, we are hoping that we will have plenty of time to keep plugging away on the kitchen. The more we do, the more exciting we are about the new look and functionality of the room! Stay tuned!

Valentine's Day Bubble Wreath Tutorial

2012-01-27T17:09:00.000-08:00

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I love all of the burlap bubble wreaths I have been seeing around blogland and on Pinterest. I wanted to do something for our door for Valentine's Day, and I thought a bubble wreath would fit the bill. But I wanted to do something a bit more fun than just red burlap.

I browsed around JoAnn's for awhile and found a fabulous graphic black and white print. I bought 1 5/8 yards, which ended being enough to cover the front of the wreath (not the back so it would lay flat against the door).

I also picked up straight pins, accent hearts and matching ribbon.

Cut your fabric into 4" squares

Fold the fabric into half to make two triangles

Fold the one side backwards, making a quarter size triangle behind

Fold the other side forwards, bringing the quarter size triangle to the front.

Now puff up to make your bubble.

With this lighter weight fabric, I pull in the two remaining sides.

Then pinned all of the way through your great bubble!

Then just pin around the styrofoam wreath!

Here is the completed wreath covered in the fabric bubbles...

Then I added red glitter heart picks that I got at the dollar store.

It added a little special something!

Finally I used matching red glitter ribbon and hung it on the door!

I love how it came out!

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Tide Coldwater Challenge

2012-01-26T14:54:00.000-08:00

We are a family of six, and my biggest challenge to keeping organized as a stay at home mom is the mountains of laundry. Seriously, my family wears a minimum of 30 articles of clothing. That does not include sports uniforms, towels, sheets, sweatshirts, throw rugs and all of the other things that keep a family going. It is a constant battle.

With that much laundry, I only want to have to wash things once. I don't want to wash things, check them over before putting them in the dryer to see if they still have stains and then wash them again. That is why I avoid washing in cold water. I stick by the adage of hot for whites, warm for lights and cold only for darks.

I was happy to be a part of the shespeaks Tide Coldwater Challenge. I was given a bottle of the Tide for Coldwater to try with my family. So I took a day or two off from laundry duty (I try to do a load every day). I then spent yesterday doing laundry. This is just a few days worth of laundry for my family...

I am happy to report that I washed all of these in cold water using the Tide for Coldwater formula, and none of them had to be rewashed for stains!

It also pleases Daddy D, who has a degree in Environmental Science. He really enjoys when we can reduce our energy usage. By washing only in cold water we are conserving energy, as well as saving money in energy costs. That's a win-win!

Not only that, Daddy D has always been a fan of the Tide scent. Not only do your clothes come out clean, they also smell great! We love it!

I received a product sample and gift card as compensation for this review. All opinions and experiences expressed are solely my own.

Our Sweet Little Hot Dog Makes Us Sad...

2012-01-26T14:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday our dog turned 5. Which isn't that old, except when you are a miniature daschund. Most people know her breed as a Hot Dog. She, being a miniature, is actually referred to as a cocktail wiener by Daddy D. We have had her for almost five years, since she was old enough to be with us. She is a red color, and we named her Ginger.

She is well loved. Lots of little boyz to run around with.

A momma who loves another female in the house. A daddy who spoils her with shoveled walkways in the winter and lets her snuggle up to on the couch.

On Saturday morning Ginger was slow to wake up. When she did she was hobbling around a bit, and was nippy with the boyz-which is unusual for her. By late morning she was limping a lot. I sat down on the ground and put her in my lap and felt the paw and leg that she had been having difficulty with. Oddly enough there didn't seem to be a sore spot. I sat her on an afghan next to the fire, her favorite place to be in the winter. But then a few hours later she got up to go outside and she couldn't move her legs.

Phone calls, the vet and more ensued. It seems that Ginger has a spinal injury. She is paralyzed from the mid-waist down. She has something called IVDD, which actually effects 20% of her breed in their lifetime. An astonishing number if you think about it. One in five daschunds will have debilitating damage to their back. That is a crazy number!

We knew all along that back injuries are a risk in this breed. We have been diligent all along with the amount of food she eats so that she did not gain extra weight which would have been more of a risk factor. But despite that, four days before her fifth birthday our dog could not walk. We do not know what her outcome will be at this time.

We are doing conservative crate treatment at this time, meaning that she is confined to her crate for all but pottying for eight weeks. This will give her back the best chance at healing. She also is taking pain meds and supplements to help with the healing process. When she does go to the bathroom she walks using a sling to keep her back aligned.

It is a very sad time. One boy cried on Sunday morning because he was used to her sitting by his feet while he ate breakfast. Eli, who Ginger has been around his entire life, cannot grasp what is going on at the age of 3. He keeps asking why Ginger's legs are broken. It makes my heart ache.

We will have to see how things progress and if she will ever walk again. But in the meantime we are making sure to shower her with love and kind words as she deals with this. And no matter what happens, we love her and she is a part of our family.

Valentines Day Sead Beed X's and O's Tutorial

2012-01-20T18:06:00.000-08:00

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January is starting to wind down, and I am gearing up for a fabulous February! Of course, all things love are in season right about now. I wanted to add a touch of Valentines Day flare without spending a ton. So while browsing the aisles of our new Hobby Lobby (have I mentioned yet how in love I am with that place?) I remembered my uber popular St. Patrick's Day Seed Beed Four Leaf Clover from last year. Why not make a version for Valentines Day as well?

I didn't want to go that heart route. What else says love? The X's and O's at a bottom of a love letter. I picked up one sheet of scrapbooking paper for 59 cents in a pretty black and white scrolling pattern. I then grabbed a tube of seed beeds in a deep red, again-bright red seemed too obvious. That cost $2.99, but I used my 40% off weekly coupon making it--eh, you do the math!

Then we made the traditional Target stop, and I grabbed one black and one white 5 x 7 frames for $1.99 a piece. I liked that it provided a bit of contrast yet still both matched the paper.

To start, I grabbed the 5 x 7 paper insert of the oh so fabulous fakeo couple smiling and traced two onto the back of the paper. I then cut them out. Easy peasy.

Then I printed out a X and and O from my computer. I went with the default font on my word processor, played with the size until I liked it and printed it out.

I cut out the letter and placed it in the center of the paper and then carefully and slowly traced lightly around it.

This gives you the outline for your pattern on the paper.

Then I just filled it with good old Elmer's School Glue...

And then poured the seed beeds on top.

Shake of the excess...

Then place in frames with the glass taken out and your done!

I love how great they look. A little bit of love, not an in your face kind of thing.

I put them in the shelves in my living room. I love the contrast against the blue background. And I added the "d" from our collection of "d's" on our shelves for our last name. I kind of love me some typography, and putting the D for my hubby's last name that he gave to me added just a tad bit more awww for me!

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Zeiss Lenses and Educational Tools

2012-01-20T13:46:00.000-08:00

I was asked to take a look online at the Zeiss lenses and the educational tools that were created to enable eyeglass wearers to better understand their vision correction needs, ensure they get the most out of their next eye exam, and receive the best lenses to regain sharp vision.

I was reading through the education tools on the Zeiss site, and having been a glasses wearer for seventeen years now I didn't think there was much I would garner from the information provided. I have to say I was surprised!

The first thing that peaked my interest was a run down of the different types of coatings that can be applied to your lenses. There were standard ones like the Anti-Scratch and Anti-Reflective coatings. But I was surprised to learn about Anti-Static coating that repels dust and dirt to keep the lenses cleaner longer. Or what about Hydrophobic? This makes dirt and moisture slide off of the surface making it easier and quicker to clean and dry the lenses.

My favorite of the educational tool was the Questions to Ask at your Next Eye Appointment. I truly think I'll print out this list and bring it with me for not only my own appointment, but that of the boys. There are questions I never thought to ask, like will one pair of glasses meet all of my vision needs? Or does Gabriel, my 7 year old who wears glasses, need different lenses for sports?

I also really liked the suggestion of getting a copy of your new prescription to keep for yourself in case you were to lose or break your glasses on vacation or visiting relatives. Just like I need to know all of the boys prescriptions for medications that they take, I should know Gabriel's prescription for corrective lenses!

It didn't take a long time to read through these clear, concise educational tools. By doing so I do feel better informed and better able to participate in my families eye health! I highly recommend them!

I have been compensated for this post, but as always, all opinions expressed and experiences portrayed are my own.

Kitchen Progress Update- Week #3

2012-01-19T20:28:00.000-08:00

This week it finally happened! My mis-matched white hood and stainless stove was remedied. I now have a matching set of a microwave hood and oven! Wohoo! So much excitement in the D household. Especially since our old microwave was received as our first Christmas present from my mom and stepfather the year Daddy D and I got married. Yep. 12 years old. Older than our sixth grader!

I know you want to see pics, so we went from this...

To this...

But not without a tad bit of a hiccup. The microwave hood we ordered came in right on time last Thursday. We started installation prep and took down the old hood. It was hardwired. Then we took out the shiny new pretty thang. And there was a plug. Hmmm.

I am very lucky indeed that Daddy D is a handy guy and experienced in many a home repair. Yes, he even knows electrical hoozamawhatsits. So our bit of an issue was nothing a trip to the store for a junction box, some cutting through a wall and running some new wiring couldn't fix. Again. Lucky girl, I know.

So by Sunday afternoon we were basking in our new micro glory. It is like twice as big and even has a shelf so that we can microwave two plates at once. Feeling mighty fancy now!

I am also super excited that these are sitting on my microwave-free counter-top now...

Tiling is about to commence!

What else is happening you might ask? Well, today I purchased this...

And I fixed this debacle...

It is mighty organized and spiffy under that shelf now, but you'll just have to wait and see!

Other things happening in the kitchen this week: I ordered a new cartridge for my Cricut to add a little something special to the pantry shelves. I am also still waiting for my drawer knobs that match the new handles that went on two weeks ago.

I might or might not be lost a midst a pile of fabric for faux roman shades. And there is still that super cool, yet pesky, project I keep hinting about. Only problem being that I need another set of hands, and Daddy D is working on the doors for the media console we built last month. I keep telling him that it is kitchen month. He keeps measuring and drilling. Harrumph. I know, I know. Something is still getting done in our DIY house. I shall be grateful.

What have you been up to?

Chicken Noodle Soup, Fleece Pajama Pants & a Warm Fir

2012-01-17T18:52:00.000-08:00

So much for the unseasonably warm January here in New York. It has been in the teens and below the last few days. Sprinkle in the snow and freezing rain. It is cold and nasty. And it makes me not want to do much of anything.

But I decided to make the best of a dreary afternoon. First I started a big old slow cooker full of chicken soup. I am not one for recipes when it comes to soup. I put in some chicken stock. I put in some cooked chicken breasts. Threw in two chopped onions and a bunch of carrots. Added in a bunch of random spices. Let it simmer for a few hours. Then added two types of noodles, and a hot dinner was ready.

That wasn't all though! I made a few pairs of fleece pajama pants for the boyz! I picked up patterns at the 99 cent pattern sale at JoAnns. I picked up one for each boyz size, and then once they are cut out I have one to use over and over again to make the fleece pants. Then I buy fleece whenever it is 50% off. It ends up costing me about $5-7 to make.

I find the boyz love them, and the bonus being they are cheaper and of better quality than what we would purchase in a store. Think sewing them is too hard? Really, they are very beginner sewing patterns and take less than an hour to make!

Finally, now that the day is drawing to a close, I am snuggling under a fuzzy blanket and watching a great fire in our living room.

The day didn't turn out so bad after all...

Kitchen Update Week 2

2012-01-12T19:33:00.000-08:00

It's been one week and I wanted to update you on the kitchen progress. Last week I told you that we are spending the month of January working on our kitchen. From doing some more minor renovations to organizing we decided to focus our efforts and funds for the month on this one room.

Well, we ordered the new stainless microwave oven hood combination last weekend. We got a great deal from Sears. It was on sale, and then we ordered it during friends and family discount days so that we got an additional 15% off. We ordered in store at our local Sears and it was delivered to the store today. After work Daddy D picked it up, and I can't wait to get to work changing it out.

We also went to Home Depot this week and picked up the remaining tile that we would need to make this part of the kitchen...

Match this side...

If you notice in my before pic, by replacing the hood that came with the house we will get that counter space where the microwave is.

Also, we are checking off another appliance that we are switching over to the Stainless side of the street. We purchased the stove first, quickly followed by the installation of a dishwasher.Only the refrigerator will remain!

Other things that happened this week in the kitchen? I ordered the remaining knobs from the same line as our new handles and they should arrive the middle of next week. We also prepped and are ready for installation of a cool new project next week!

I have also been slowly but surely working away at organizing our pantry.

So all in all I think we are doing great! Can't wait to show you more progress next week!

DIY Valentines Day Heart Pennant for $2.60!

2012-01-11T20:01:00.000-08:00

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I had planned on starting the Valentines Day craft tutorials next week, but this one was a spur of the moment buy that is time sensitive! Today I was at Target and they were having a fabulous clearance sale. The remaining Christmas items were 90% off.

There was a ton of these felt ornaments left. Seriously. Bins of them. Hopefully there will be at yours as well! So get there quickly, as they are $1 for 3. So at 90% off they are 10 cents each! I picked up six sets for 60 cents.

I then went into my bargain ribbon stash that I had purchased at a dollar a roll. I ended up using 4 yards of 1 inch ribbon for the banner. But I wanted to make them hang off of the string, so I cut six inch lengths of smaller ribbon.

I then tied a knot in the six inch length and trimmed it close to the knot.

Then I put the loop through the top of the ornament.

I pulled the loop through the knotted section and made it snug to the ornament.

Finally, I slipped it onto the ribbon banner.

And finished it off with a quick tie.

I love how this came out!

Plus the colors spruced up our kitchen window

(Ignore the blinds--they'll only be there another week or so until the new shades are done!)

So much fun for a grand total of $2.60!

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New Year's Project, Kitchen Details

2012-01-05T20:37:00.000-08:00

With that fresh start feeling of a new year Daddy D and I discussed what it was that we wanted to accomplish around the house. We bought our house 16 months ago, and up until recently we have been in sheer functional mode, as in making the house work our family of six.

We have done a lot, but it has been all over the house. A little here, a little there. And there is a list for every room of things that need to be done. So we decided that with a new year we would take a new approach. For the month of January we are going to work on the kitchen.

This includes finishing up our pantry redo, the shades that I have started for the window, and a bunch of organizational projects. We are also going to try to finish the backsplash project from last May.

Although we did complete the one side of the kitchen, there is another side that needs to be done. We need to install a new microwave hood before we can tile on that side, so that is on the books for this weekend! I am very excited, as this will also open up the counter top where the microwave has been sitting. And what girl doesn't love more counter space?

Finally, we have already started the last item on the list. We have switched out the woven aged brass pulls for new brushed nickel pulls that match the stainless tiles in the backsplash and the new appliances. All large cabinets were given these full pulls. We are still waiting for 9 square knobs to finish the smaller cabinets and drawers. I can't wait!

Do you have any projects you are working on for the new year?

Wordless Wednesday- Christmas!

2012-01-03T21:24:00.000-08:00

Today the three eldest went off to school (hooray!) leaving just Eli and I to hang out for the day. We did wonderful things like snuggle and watch some preschool programming. And I got to take a peek at our Christmas pictures! They made me smile. Enjoy!

Happy 2012!

2012-01-02T21:46:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow the kids go back to school (a cheer has escaped my lips unintentionally) and I will be back from a holiday vacation filled with memories made together as a family.

I hope 2012 has brought a fresh outlook! We welcomed in 2012 for the first time as a family of six, with no one else. We are always going to or hosting New Years Eve parties. But this year we opted out and spent the night in front of the roaring fire in the living room, chowing down on yummy snacks and being together.

Granted, this also meant explaining to my 7 and 11 year olds, who made it all of the way to midnight, some interesting things. Ya know, like why that old man on the TV is orange (aka Dick Clark with a ridiculous Snooki-esque spray tan). Or Jenny McCarthy totally sucking face with a random new NYPD recruit at the stroke of midnight. All in all, though, it was cozy. I wouldn't have changed it for anything.

(Our annual stroke of midnight photo--

kind of enjoy the 11 yr olds sideways glance!)

I have survived the week of Nintendo 3DS bleeps and iPod touch bloops as the boyz have reveled in their gifts left under the Christmas tree. And Eli obsessing over his now extensive Squinkies collection. If I have to pull another couch cushion off or move the coffee table again to look for that minuscule Woody or Buzz I might lose it.

In a mere seven hours that magical mustard colored vehicle will pull up to our driveway and the red flashing lights and stop sign will signal the end of winter break in the D household. I'll be waving goodbye at the front door, and maybe- just maybe I'll be lucky and Eli will sleep in like he has as of late. Which means that as the lights fade away in the morning mist I will climb the stairs and climb back into my warm bed and have a quiet morning. At least that's what I'm hoping!

Nutter Butter Snowman Cookies

2011-12-22T15:18:00.000-08:00

I have been pinning Christmas ideas for months onto my Pinterest board. When I first came across these in October while cuddling a sick kiddo and surfing while he slept, I couldn't wait to make them for the holidays. Fast forward to a crazy couple of weeks of school holiday concerts, cub scout parties, Christmas shopping and yesterday I was going through the school papers and there was a reminder that tomorrow was the holiday party for Kindergarten.

I love making cupcakes and cakes, but have found that there are a lot of moms who send in cupcakes for a class party. So many do so, and usually the kids only get to choose one. I wanted to send something different, and if it was small I could put it in a tupperware in his backpack rather than having to drive in large containers of cupcakes. I pulled up my Pinterest boards and there in my Food Fun board I found the picture of the original done by My Pretty Purse.

I made some adjustments to some of the materials I had on hand and went to the grocery store for the rest. For this project I needed:

Nutter Butter Cookies
Wilton White Candy Melts
Orange Tic Tacs
Candy Coated Chocolates
Chocolate pre-made icing
Wax Paper
Double Boiler or Chocolate Melter
Fondue fork, toothpick or skewer

First I covered the Nutter Butters in candy melts. I used my favorite tool for working with the candy melts, the Wilton Chocolate Pro Electric Chocolate Melter. I purchased it at the Wilton tent sale this summer and have used it for everything from dipping pretzels and marshmallows to making candy coated pretzels.

My tips for dipping the Nutter Butters are from trial and error. I used a fondue fork and turned the cookies sideways, placing the fork into the center. Think like a bowtie with the stick out of the center. Next I held the Nutter Butter over the container and spooned the melted candy on top of it, letting it roll over the sides and onto the bottom. If you dip the cookie straight into the candy pot one of two things will happen, the cookie will fall off into the pot or it will break. It is just too much weight.

Tap the stick on the side of the pot as you hold it to help remove excess and get out air bubbles. Then place it directly onto the wax paper. I did three at a time and then paused to place the candies into the setting coating. For the nose, place one orange tic tac right in the center of the upper part. Then place two candy coated chocolates onto the bottom portion.

After they have set, it takes just over half an hour, add your facial features and arms. I used a small amount from a ready-made tub of chocolate frosting I had on hand. Using a disposable decorator bag and a #3 Wilton decorating tip I piped on the features. You could also use a plastic baggie with the tip cut off.

I was able to package them up in the morning and send them off to school. They were a huge hit!

I received the Wilton Chocolate Pro without charge, but was not required to post on it. All opinions and views expressed are my own.

Making Wilton Candy Kits with the Boys and Girls Club of Sullivan County

2011-12-21T20:41:00.000-08:00

I was invited to the Boys and Girls Club of Sullivan County's Liberty Chapter to come in and run a guest class. I was happy to volunteer, and as a Wilton Mom Ambassador I began looking through the online store for project ideas.

I found these Christmas Candy Kits for Pretzels, and I am thankful that Wilton donated most of the supplies needed for me to teach the class!

Last week I went to the local chapter to teach the class. Over the course of just over two hours I was able to teach basic candy making skills to just under 30 kids.

The kids did a great job, as did the Boys and Girls club staff that assisted me.

The next day, after all of the molds had set, each child went home with two pieces that they had created.

Thank you to the Boys and Girls Club of Sullivan County for asking me to teach, and a huge thank you to Wilton for donating the supplies. It was a pleasure to teach a new skill to so many eager young ladies and gentleman!

Our Christmas Mantle

2011-12-20T19:51:00.000-08:00

I've been showing you parts of our Christmas mantle. First I showed you the stockings I had cross-stitched for the boyz.

And then I showed you the ornaments I glittered for the apothecary jars.

Well, here is the full thing. My favorite brown coffee filter wreath is at the center. You can see the tutorial on that here.

I added some more glittered ornaments at the dollar store, as well as the gold glittered poinsettia.

I tied pieces of burlap and aqua calico fabric cut into strips around a string of LED lights. I love how it is a unique alternative to a evergreen swag.

I really love how it looks at night!

I added an all white nativity set that I have had for years and added a decorative box underneath to give it more height and presence and covered it with the burlap as well.

Do you decorate a mantle for the holidays?

The Santa Express Arrives

2011-12-19T21:17:00.000-08:00

This weekend happened to be the one in six that Daddy D gets off. I spent all day Friday cleaning so that we could just relax for the weekend. When Daddy D got home that night we headed to the mall and finished the Christmas shopping, which was a huge relief!

Saturday was a wonderful day of sitting by a warm fire and spending some family time. Then that evening we headed into town to watch the Santa Express arrive.

The Santa Express is a huge trailer pulled by a rig, completely decked out in Christmas decorations, a gingerbread village, elves and winter characters, a sleigh pulled by lighted reindeer and more. It is done by volunteers and visits towns all over our county for two weekends in December. Saturday night was our town's night.

We are not a huge Santa family. But we do have one Santa present for all of the boyz every Christmas, a compromise between my no Santa upbringing and Daddy D's Santa heavy household. But even though the boyz understand a lot more than most their age (and ABSOLUTELY understand that they are never to ruin the magic for others) they still enjoy a bit of Santa excitement.

So off we went to see the Santa Express. It was so much fun to watch the kids all light up. We were also completely in awe of the fact that hundreds of people came out in our small town. There was a sense of community and excitement. It felt like Christmas!

Glitter Covered Ornaments Craft

2011-12-15T18:00:00.000-08:00

Recently I showed you this picture I had found on pinterest.

Source: blog.craftzine.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

I decided that I wanted to make some for my mantle, but didn't have any of the old, large lightbulbs that were used. Instead I went to my favorite place for craft supplies, the local dollar store.

I found these that were similar in ornament form (not breakable, wohoo!). Better yet they were a bit beat up and from last year, so they were marked down to 50 cents. Win!

I bought several and I decided to try my hand at a product that swept the craft blogs around Halloween this year, Krylon Glitterblast. I loved what I had seen, and I could not resist the lure of a fabulous glittered surface that it promised straight out of the can.

First I used painters tape to wrap the bottoms to avoid an entirely blue covered ornament.

Then I took them outside and sprayed away.

Except that I had the hardest time with the product. It would spray even when I wasn't touching the can. I shook and shook and did everything according to the directions, and yet I would get mostly the clear binder and no glitter. Then when the glitter came it was kind of all over the place and uncontrollable.

After an entire can used to only cover the 8 ornaments, well-they weren't sufficiently covered. One side was kind of covered.

Now I use Krylon quite a bit for various products. I thought I must have a defective can. I called the 800 number and they promptly sent not one but two replacement cans to me.

And it happened again. After the SECOND can did the same things, and the ornaments were still not covered well I had to break open can number three. So three cans later, if bought retail amounting over $20, I have decent looking ornaments.

I kind of really love them in my apothecary jar.

But if doing this yourself, skip the spray glitter. Cover in glue, roll in some fabulous Martha Stewart fine glitter and be done with it. You'll thank me.

Handmade Christmas Stockings

2011-12-14T20:53:00.000-08:00

Our stockings have been hung by the chimney with care...

Today I wanted to share the stockings that I made for the boyz. Each was made for their first Christmas. I barely made it with Seth's, being up until the wee hours of Christmas morning finishing it. They are all counted cross-stitched by hand. I take great joy in hanging them each year.

The one I made for Seth has a Noah's Ark theme to it, as that was what his nursery was done in. I loved the details like the ornaments on the reindeer antlers, or the wreath around the giraffe neck.

I chose Gabriel's pattern because of the angels along the top, as he was named for the angel Gabriel. I loved the beauty of the shadings in the robes.

For Nathan I had to search far an wide for another biblical themed stocking pattern. It seemed I could only find the two I had already done at the time. I found this pattern on ebay. I liked the night sky and the vivid colors that set it apart from Gabe's. His name was also most challenging to fit onto the top, as he has two middle names.

Finally there was Eli. Eli's middle name is Noel, as he was a Christmas gift to us. Also, with John's french heritage he liked the reference to Papa Noel in making a Santa Claus stocking. So Eli's is the only stocking I made without a bible theme to it. But I love it. The details in the bag and individual toys are beautiful, and I think it fits his name perfectly.

What are your stockings for your family like?

Scalloped Posies from Nest of Posies

2011-12-10T12:01:00.000-08:00

I am very excited to show you a great stocking stuffer idea for the holidays! I received my order of three of the these Nest of Posies Scalloped Posies today and I LOVE them! They are simply beautiful and I can't wait to add them to the lapel of my winter wool coat. The bright colors will brighten even the whitest winter day! At $5 they are a great little something special, but hurry-last day to order for Christmas delivery is December 12th.

Because we all know that accessories make the outfit.
And 'tis the season for all things merry & bright.
Why not give the gift of handmade to your friends, family or yourself?

Delicious wool felt made into Scallop Posie Pins to coordinate with any outfit.

15 yummy options.

You pick your colors.

Just $5.00 each.

Use 1, 2 or 3 to embellish anything. A perfect accessory to add to your coat, scarf, cardy, purse, hair & ________.

Hurry! Last day to place an order for all wool felt products is Dec 12th.

Visit Nest of Posies Shop to see the entire collection & buy handmade for the holidays.

I received samples for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

My Birthday Project aka 34 Acts of Random Kindness

2011-12-08T19:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my 34th birthday. I was feeling rather eh about it all, and then I came across The Birthday Project through Pinterest. In a matter of minutes I was excited and looking forward to the day.

It took 5 hours and 5 minutes of driving around to get it all done, but I accomplished my goal of 34 acts of random kindness for my 34th birthday (and then some). Eli, my youngest son, was a trooper. Being 3 and my only boy not in school he was my sidekick. He took a mini power nap between towns, but managed to stick the whole thing out without any major meltdowns.

So here they are, my 34 (+) acts of random kindness:

1) I left a box of gingersnap cookies in the mailbox for our mailman
2) Stuffed the Ronald McDonald house donation box at our local restaurant
3) Had breakfast with my mom and stepfather and surprised my mom with a box of Peppermint tea
4) Dropped off brownies to our local radio station, Thunder 102

5) Stopped in to see the ladies at our county chamber of commerce and brought cookies
6) Taped microwave popcorn to Redboxes with signs that said "a little something to help you enjoy the movie"

7) Brought a dozen cupcakes to our county HEAP department, where they have been working late into the night almost every day to make sure that people get heat.

8) Dropped off coloring books and crayons for the room used for supervised visitation.

9) Gave toys to the Toys for Tots

10) Dropped off infant feeding items and food to the Sullivan County Pregnancy Support Center

11) Thanked our local police department with brownies

12) Wrote each of the boys' teachers a handwritten thank you note and placed them in their mailboxes at school.

13) Gave the elementary school secretaries cookies.

14) Donated two boxes of dog food for the Kindergarten pet supplies drive to benefit the local shelter.

15) Brought a batch of chocolate chip cookies with a note of encouragement to a family going through a parent with a serious illness.

16) Left a birthday balloon on the doorstep of a friend who was born five minutes apart from me in the same hospital on the same day. This ended up being one of my favorite things, as he opened the door before I left and invited Eli and I in. We chatted and caught up for awhile and it was great!

17) Put two bags of clothes into the donation bin

18) Brought 20 Christmas cards that had been filled out with a handwritten message to our local nursing home to be distributed to residents.

19) Loaded washing machines at the laundromat with quarters.

20) Put signs up on bulletin boards:

21) Parked far away from Walmart on a rainy day, leaving the up close parking spaces available.

22) Put away carts left in between vehicles.

23) Left quarters with a note on the soda machine

24) Handed out candy canes to all of the kids who were holiday shopping with their parents in Walmart. They were so excited! And nothing beats Eli walking through the aisles yelling "Hey kids, I gots candy canes!"

25) Helped a woman load her groceries into the car in the rain.

26) Loaded all of the gumball type machines with quarters for some lucky kiddos!

27) Mailed a postcard to a serviceman

28) Sent my in-laws school pictures of the boyz.

29) Gave my favorite mailman one of his favorite candies and a kiss!

(Daddy D)

30) Left stamps on the counter in the post office

31) Let a woman go in front of me in line

32) Brought a bag of food to the Federation for the Homeless

33) Gave cookies to the EMTs

34) Left recent Better Homes and Gardens issues at the hospital for waiting rooms and patients. The woman at the front desk was so excited, and emotionally told me how she had just been talking about needing new magazines and I had made her day!

35) Brought cupcakes to my siblings (and nieces)!

and finally 36) Purposefully spent extra one on one time with each boy in the afternoon and evening.

It was an absolutely amazing day! I can say that I conservatively touched over 100 people yesterday, and probably a heck of a lot more than that. But more than that, I walked away feeling happy, my soul nourished from within. There were smiles. There were hugs. There were squeals. There were raised eyebrows. There was appreciation. But most of all there was love. From my heart to all of theirs. And that makes for an amazing way to start my next year.

**Want to see more of the my acts of random kindness photos? Check out the album on my facebook fan page here**

What I Want For My Birthday

2011-12-07T04:48:00.000-08:00

Today is my 34th birthday. I was kind of ho hum about it until a little less than a week ago, and then I came across something on Pinterest that made me incredibly excited. I mean full on, I can't wait, counting down the moments like a little kid anticipating my birthday.

What was the change? I decided to spend my 34th birthday doing 34 acts of random kindness, inspired by The Birthday Project. I was tossing around the idea in my mind, and then on Sunday during church the sermon was about being blessed so that you can be a blessing to others. And that was all the encouragement I needed. I have spent days preparing now. I am very, very excited.

So in the day and age of facebook one line "Happy Bday" and e-cards I ask one thing. As I spend my day giving to others, will you do the same? It will only take a moment. Throughout the course of the day many opportunities will present themselves. Just take one. Hold open a door for someone. Smile, look someone in the eyes and say thank you, let someone ahead of you in line in the grocery store. One small, tiny thing will make a happy birthday for me.

And if you are so moved to do a little something for someone else, be sure to leave a comment here, or on tomorrow's post where I will tell you about my very special birthday!

#SearsRealCheer Twitter Party -Win Gift Cards!

2011-12-06T20:02:00.000-08:00

I love the holiday season and I truly love decorating our home for Christmas. Some of my favorite bloggers have been posting fabulous decorating ideas, and it really gives me several creative inspirations for my own home. The best part? These are all easily accomplished with items purchased in the Sears Holiday decor department!

I love these ornaments that Heather from Whiperberry chose!

Or how about this absolutely classic outdoor decor by Kristen from Our Ordinary Life.

There are so many choices from Sears, like Jennifer from Always in Wonder found out recently!

Be sure to RSVP for the Twitter party so that you can win! We will be giving away of two $50 and two $100 Sears gift cards so that you can do some holiday decorating all your own!

When: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 9-10 pm EST

Where: On Twitter using hashtag #SearsRealCheer and this custom TweetGrid http://bit.ly/uGt0UM Who: Be sure to follow @MommaDandDaBoyz @JerraNalley , and @LizLongcrier, who will be hostessing the party.

Prizes: We will be giving away two $50 Sears gift cards and two $100 Sears gift cards. Please RSVP using the linky below (enter the URL to your Twitter profile) to be eligible for one of the gift cards. All winners will be chosen using random.org from the RSVP link and winners must be present and participating in the party at the time that they are drawn as a winner.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE TAXED, PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW.Subject to Official Rules. Open only to residents of the United States. Enter by RSVPing for the Twitter party on this link, be actively participating in the party and are using the hashtag #SearsRealCheer. To be eligible, entries must be received by 8:55 p.m. EST except that mail in entries must be mailed separately and postmarked by December 8, 2011. To enter without purchase, hand write your name, completed address, age and telephone number on a 3”x5” card and mail it to Collective Bias, 205 S. Main Street, Ste. 1, Bentonville, AR 72712. Prizes will be limited to two (2) $50 gift cards and four (2) $100 gift cards, one (1) gift card given away every 15 minutes during the 1 hour duration of the party on December 13, 2011. Winners will be selected at random using www.random.org. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Winner will be notified via Twitter @ message by @lizlongcrier during the party on December 13, 2011 and must respond to @lizlongcrier within 5 minutes of being selected to claim their prize. All entries will be eligible for any unclaimed prizes after the close of the Twitter party via random drawing held on December 20^th, 2011. To obtain a copy of the Official Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Collective Bias, 205 S. Main Street, Ste. 1, Bentonville, AR 72712.

SPONSORS: Collective Bias, 205 S. Main Street, Ste. 1, Bentonville, AR 72712

Holiday Toy Gift Guide 2011

2011-12-05T18:54:00.000-08:00

I can't believe we are less than three weeks away from Christmas! Where has 2011 gone? We have been busy preparing for this special time of year, and part of that is checking out some of the coolest and hottest toys this holiday season. So here is a quick roundup of many of the things we love in the D household.

Everyone knows that you can spend a fortune on the coolest, hottest new toy and the kids will want to play in the box. Why not skip the first step? Box Creations has a great line of imaginative cardboard playhouses that come in everything from a princess carriage to a space shuttle to a medieval castle. We tried out the pirate ship. It was incredibly easy to put together. Within fifteen minutes the boyz were decorating their ship. I love that they come white with outlines. It is like a giant, three dimensional coloring book that lets their imaginations go wild. This has withstood hours of play with very little damage. The boyz have loved even bringing in pillows and blankets and watching tv. At $29.99 plus $9.99 shipping it is a unique and fun activity that lets them creat and play with very little boundaries.

In the world of boyz, Christmas is not complete without some type of radio-controlled (RC) vehicle. Thanks to Radio Shack we had an opportunity to check out the Silverlit Head Shotz Battle Balls. What we loved about these is they come in a 2-pack, so it is a great gift for siblings. This product is recommended for ages 5 & up. We tested these with all of the boys who are ages 5 and up, and these take a little bit of getting used to. Personally, our 7 and 11 year olds really enjoyed them, but the 5 year old was easily frustrated. These feature both battle mode, where you try to knock off your opponents targets, or a mode to just play. At a price point of $39.99 they are a great deal, but they are on sale for $29.99 until Christmas Eve at Radio Shack.

One of our families favorite toys is the Perplexus by PlaSmart. We have had the original for about a year and a half, and every single member of our family loves what we call the maze ball. It is a maze/labrynth contained withing a clear ball. So when your ball bearing falls off of the track it is all self contained. No looking for little rolling balls under a table or anything. A great plus with little kids that might try and swallow one! So we were incredibly excited when this fall PlaSmart released the Perplexus Rookie and Perplexus Epic. The Perplexus Rookie is an easier version for younger children and beginners. The Perplexus Epic is for advanced players and is HARD. We love the challenge and everyone in our family, as well as visitors and friends, love these mazes.

They actually sit in a bookcase in our family room and are constantly being used. Seriously, I was taking pictures of Nate with the RC Head Shotz above, and if you look over his shoulder-there is the original Perplexus! Ranging in price from $20-$30 they are a great buy and can be found in many retailers like Amazon and ToysRUs.

The absolute must-have toy for the pre-school and elementary set is the new LeapFrog Leapster LeapPad. Think a cross between a handheld video game player and your iPad or smartphone. This is a great learning system that combines fun, interactive and educational games with the latest technology that all kids are craving. You can purchase either individual game cartridges (like a video game console) or download items from an App Store (like your iPad or smartphone). We have thoroughly tested this product for several weeks now, and we have absolutely nothing bad to say. This has both picture and video capabilities, as well as coloring and drawing beyond the games and activities. It is extremely easy to use for a generation that is used to grabbing mom & dad's technology and it is DURABLE. We have had many drops and now damage. If purchasing this product be sure to get rechargeable batteries and to quickly attach the stylus! It retails for around $100 and can be found at many toy and retail stores, or online at the LeapFrog website.

So those are some of our favorites! What are yours?

Items were received without charge for purposes of review. All opinions expressed are my own.