My Superbia

DIY Memo Board Tutorial

2015-06-30T13:40:00.002-07:00

Materials:

canvas of desired size for completed memo board
fabric*
batting**
narrow ribbon***
staple gun
staples
5 buttons
needle
thread

*at least 6 inches wider and longer than your canvas
**at least 2 inches wider and longer than your canvas
***long enough to stretch across your canvas diagonally about 7 times—I measure & cut mine as I work

Directions:

Preparing the Materials

1. If necessary, trim your fabric and batting. I usually use my canvas as a template, making sure to leave about 3” of fabric on any side of the canvas and about 1” of batting.

2. Working on a hard surface, lay out your fabric, then your batting, and finally your canvas. Make sure the fabric is smooth, and the batting and canvas are centered on it. You should see a narrow border of batting around the canvas, and then a much wider border of fabric behind that.

Attaching the Fabric

3. Working on one side at a time, you are going to wrap the fabric and batting around to the back of the canvas and then staple it to the canvas’s frame. Start with one of the long sides, starting in the middle, and then working your way out. Make sure you smooth the fabric as you go to prevent any wrinkles from forming on the front. It is best to place your staples about two inches apart. Stop a few inches from the end—the corners are tricky, so you’ll do that part last.

4. Once you have one side stapled, repeat this process on the opposite side. Make sure you smooth out the fabric first, and try to keep the tension consistent as you move across. You don’t want the fabric to be able to bunch or shift, but if you pull it too tight, it will become distorted. Once you have the long sides stapled, move to the short sides. Again, smooth the fabric in the front first, pulling any extra fabric towards the unstapled sides.

Finishing the Corners

5. Once you have all of the sides stapled, you are ready to finish the corners. This part can be tricky, so refer to the pictures. Pull the extra fabric at one corner straight up, forming a triangular-like shape. Next, pull it down and towards the center of the canvas, so it forms a small triangle on the side of the canvas, as seen in the picture. On one side of the extra fabric that is still sticking up, secure the fold with a staple. Next, smooth the extra fabric down flat and secure it with a second staple, this one going perpendicular to the first. Repeat this process with the other three corners.

6. Trim any excess fabric from the back of the canvas.

Attaching the Ribbon

7. Now, for the ribbon. Just like before, all of the stapling for this step will be done on the back, and you will want to make sure you keep the ribbons nice and tight. Always leave a tail of an inch or two when you staple & cut the ribbons.

8. The first two ribbons will create an X on the front of the canvas. On one of the long sides, staple the end of the ribbon about one inch from the corner. Stretch it across the front, then wrap it behind the opposite corner and staple it about one inch from that corner. Repeat this process with the other two corners to form an X.

9. The next set of ribbons will form two Vs across the front. Fold a long length of ribbon in half, then staple the center point at the middle of one of the short sides. Take one end and stretch it across the front of the canvas to the center of one of the long sides. Wrap it around the back and secure it with a staple. Repeat this with the other end and the opposite long side.

10. Repeat step 9 with a second long length of ribbon, starting at the middle of the opposite short side. When you stretch each end of the ribbon across, you will be stapling it in basically the same spot as the ends in step 9. This will complete the ribbon pattern the front of the board.

Attaching the Buttons

11. If you’ve attached your ribbon correctly, they will criss-cross in five different places on the front of the canvas. As the final step, you will sew a button at each of these intersections, securing the ribbon. Make sure you sew the buttons firmly in place.

The Finished Product

12. At this point, your board is complete. If you like, you can add hanging hardware to the back, but I usually just hang it from the frame of the canvas. Your memo board is ready to be enjoyed!

Summer To-Do List, Volume 3: Summer 2015

2015-06-24T00:16:00.002-07:00

Update

Yep, two years later, and I haven't changed---making a summer to-do list is still the best way for me to maximize my ability to relax and enjoy my summer vacation. I know it may seem crazy that I need to organize my leisure time (seriously, who does that?), but for me, it works. Simple as that.

The 2015 List

Hang Derek's guitars (although this is really a honey-do item)
Install a clothes line on the back porch (even if I never use it) (Bought the hardware--waiting for hubby's help)
~~Memo board tutorial post~~
Hang hooks in the master bedroom
Sew something using Goodwill fabric
Hang hooks in hall bathroom (switch out for towel rack--more practical for Booger)
Replant vinca plant in a permanent pot
Buy hardware for curtain in laundry room
Make and hang curtain in laundry room
Finalize curtains in office
Finish gift quilt
Plan and cut squares for second gift quilt
~~Restring Sande's necklace~~
Send necklace & boys' gifts to ID
~~Edit & reprint chores list~~
~~E-mail updated chores list to Sande~~
Finish Ottawa application

Submit online application
E-mail copy of Tiela's recommendation letter, fingerprint card, and teaching certificate
~~Touch base with Donna about recommendation letter~~
Request transcripts from ASU
Update & e-mail resume
Write & e-mail personal statement

~~Make Hawaii countdown chain with Brannon~~
~~ART something~~
Post crib on Craigslist
~~Go through stuff on top of the fridge~~
~~Deliver stuff to Goodwill~~
Take Austen movies (and books?) to Bookman's
~~Repair hole in hall bathroom wall (again)~~
~~Checkout options for matching wall texture~~
~~Complete at least one photo book for Brannon--take advantage of current sale!~~
~~Order prints for entry memo boards--take advantage of current offer!~~
Go through to-do clipboard & take action or give up on items
Buy storage solution for Brannon's papers
Buy basket for Brannon's train tracks
Watch Despicable Me 2 with Brannon
Take Brannon to see Minions
Finish purging digital photos
Clean up/organize Derek's office
Restyle the art & bulletin boards in Brannon's room
Go through & purge toys and stuff on the back porch
~~Help Brannon purge & consign his toys at Kid to Kid~~
Rest, rejuvenate, and RELAX!

Ongoing Goals

Continue walking with Derek & Doc
Continue New Year's Resolution--one new recipe a week!
Have more fun with Brannon! INVITE him away from the TV and other electronics!
Go to bed at a reasonable hour & wake up long before everyone else
Maintain a regular yoga practice
Keep my vinca and pothos plants alive!
Avoid watching too much TV

What do I want?

2014-07-17T13:21:00.001-07:00

Conundrum

Last summer I had the brilliant idea to create a massive to-do list that I could refer back to when my days started seeming listless. Yes, I am, sadly, the type of person who feels the need to structure her leisure time. I am not a control freak, just really, really indecisive and anxious. Without direction, I am liable to find some mindless activity (currently a rotation of browsing Facebook, Bloglovin, and Pinterest), perform it for hours straight, skip meals or eat junk, and forget to take showers or brush my teeth. Surely you can see the need to avoid this situation if possible, right?

Last year's plan worked beautifully. I went back to school feeling refreshed and ready to tackle a new year. For whatever reason, I didn't quite apply that idea again this year. For the most part, I've kept myself busy, but I have kind of just randomly chosen projects, which sometimes leaves me feeling overwhelmed or at a loss for what to do next. When I haven't fully committed to something in some tangible way (like writing or typing it on a to-do list), it has a tendency to just rattle around in my brain, causing me anxiety.

For this reason, I have decided to write an end-of-the-summer to-do list today. I am back at work on August 4, and I am going to do my best to use these last few weeks ~~wisely~~ ~~productively~~ happily. To help me reach this goal (and increase my overall sense of well-being), I've made a few decisions.

Revelations

I really don't care about doing craft tutorials, and I am pretty sure I suck at writing them anyway. Therefore, all stress, guilt or anxiety related to said imaginary posts shall be eliminated. Forever.
This blog is for me. I have absolutely no obligation to try to make it popular, write regular posts, or do things to interest other people. It's my happy place, so it also will no longer cause me any stress, guilt, or anxiety.
I want to keep blogging, and more specifically, I want to keep building The Everyday Celiac. My weekly posts may not be stellar, but they have some merit, and I did a great job on the stand-alone pages. Overall, it has the potential to be a relatively useful resource for people who are newly diagnosed with celiac disease, and it has already made it easier for me to share my knowledge with "friends of a friend" who are new to the gluten-free world. I got really sick of writing 1500 word e-mails about being gluten-free every couple of months, but I loved helping other people in my situation. That's why I created the blog in the first place.
I want to improve my home improvement skills, and more importantly, my home improvement confidence. As a result, I MUST complete those simple projects that have been hanging over my head since last summer and no longer let Derek's interest level hold me back.
Brannon is important to me, and he is bored. I need to build in some out-of-the-box, active play for him and or involve him in my activities as much as possible. It's not so much that time is fleeting or that he is miserable, as that he ~~needs~~ deserves a playmate, and I absolutely have time for him.
Being creative makes me happy, but only if I do it on my own terms. I've got to stop choosing projects in order to prove something to others. If it doesn't fit my tastes and I am unlikely to make it as a gift, I don't need to pin it.
K.I.S.S.: Keep it simple stupid.
Let go of just in case and free your life of mental, physical, and emotional clutter. Let go of what no longer matters TO YOU and hold on to what you really care about.

The End-of-Summer Bucket List 2014

If an item has been ~~striked out~~, then it moved from "to-do" and became a "to done." ; )

~~Remove any irrelevant items from the 2013 Summer To-Do List~~
Install a clothes line on the back porch (even if I never use it)
~~Repair closet door & install new knob~~
~~Hang first black storage box in craft room~~
~~Buy supplies for 2nd and 3rd black storage boxes in craft room~~
~~Hang 2nd and 3rd black storage boxes in craft room~~
~~Re-organize kids art supplies in craft room~~
~~Paint the wall patches in Brannon's room~~
Sew something using Goodwill fabric
~~Order Brannon's fourth Shutterfly book~~
~~Review, revise and edit at least one or two Odyssey study guides~~
~~Purge project drawer & boxes of toddler stuff in craft room closet~~
Wash the car with Brannon
~~Create a family chore list & start implementing it~~
~~Buy a dog tag with our information on it~~
Try at least two new recipes

~~something with fresh blueberries~~ (Blueberry Snack Cake via Pinterest)
something with shrimp OR Thai noodles

Bake cookies at least once
Identify 2 or 3 specific activities to do with Brannon before school starts

Paint & hang birdhouse
~~Make kindergarten count-down paper chain~~
~~Visit "kid water fountain" at least once more~~
~~Go to Diamondbacks game (Uncle Devin's treat!)~~

~~Visit the temple at least three times~~

~~Amy's endowment~~
~~Jaren's & Amy's sealing~~
~~Endowment session with the quad~~

~~Wrap gifts for Amy & Shailyn~~
~~Choose format & organize pictures for Brannon's 5th photo book~~
~~Complete two more posts for The Everyday Celiac~~

~~Coconut-Lime Quinoa Salad recipe review~~
~~Can I be a [gluten-free] foodie?~~

~~Wash both couch slipcovers~~
~~Sew green chevron pillow cover~~

End-of-Summer Goals for 2014

Originally, I listed these items as part of the bucket list, but then I remembered how bummed out I get when I can't simply cross out ongoing items like these. Hopefully, by keeping them separate, that frustration won't be a problem.

Work on temple altar cloth for at least 45 minutes each day
Play with Brannon at least 20 minutes every day
Include Brannon in my activities whenever possible
Get more active & include Doc, Derek & Brannon
Enjoy my creativity & encourage Brannon's as well
Work on Brannon's kindergarten prep book
Continue having low-key Family Home Evenings

Getting The Most Out Of 2014

2014-01-17T20:37:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite bloggers, Kim at Newly Woodwards, has made an awesome habit of making two monthly posts--one that outlines her goals for the month and another that shares how she did. Considering how busy and awesome she is, I find it pretty inspiring that she still finds the time and motivation to try to be a little bit better than she was the day before.

Ever since I started following her blog, I have been inspired to take stock of the little things I can do to work a little harder to ensure that my priorities (namely, my family) and my decisions (namely, how much I work) are actually aligned. Which brings me to my New Year's resolution:

Taking back my leisure time

It may sound corny, and vaguely reminiscent of a Justin Timberlake song, but it is by far the most important thing I could do for my own mental health and for the sake of my family. A few months ago, I took this oh-so-characteristic picture of my adorable dog:

I call it "Saturday," and shortly after taking it, I realized that my Saturdays almost never look like this. In fact, they typically involve me locking myself in my combination craft room/office so I can spend the day grading, annotating texts, and/or creating new instructional materials--none of which I get paid extra for. For a long time, I thought I was okay with this...and then winter break came. And I relaxed. And I crafted. And I raked the leaves in my front yard. And. I. DIDN'T. work. And I had a realization: it's time for me to relax when I'm supposed to relax, work when I'm supposed to work, and not feel guilty about it!

Here's my plan:

Leave work at work
We are two weeks into the new semester, and so far I have been able to do just that. My contract day ends at 3:30, and I am regularly at school until 5:30 (for a variety of reasons), but when I leave, I leave everything. No grading, no reading, no making materials when I'm not on campus.
Choose hobbies over TV
In the past month I have crocheted three hats, sewed a quilt top, completed a painting I have been pondering for months, and watched minimal TV. How do I feel about that? Absolutely brilliant! I get sucked into TV because I assume I am "supposed" to watch TV when I want to relax, but it is really completing projects and gaining a sense of accomplishment that help me truly unwind.
"Earn" my free time
I tend to "freeze up" when I am torn between what I "should" do (clean the house, do laundry, etc.) and what I want to do (sew, paint, read, etc.). To break the stalemate, I decided to look at chores as a way to "earn" guilt-free time to enjoy my projects. This was especially helpful during winter break, when I had nothing but my own decisions to structure my time.
Chunk it out
Did you know it's okay to work on a project a little at a time? Apparently, I did not--until recently. A brilliant colleague of mine shared a trick she learned to beat the essay-grading blues: set a timer for 15 minutes, grade until the timer goes off, and then repeat the process if you feel up for it. I highly recommend this strategy for any chores you particularly hate doing...like folding laundry. Shudder.
Listen to my sonKids deserve our time, especially if they happen to be an only child, like my little guy. When he asks me to play baseball in the backyard, get his box of puzzles down, or play Zingo with him, I try to comply--even if it pulls me away from something that seems more important. In his life, nothing is more important than quality time with his parents.
Forgive myself when I mess up
I know I am going to slip up now and then, but the whole goal of this resolution is to have less stress in my life--not more. If something doesn't go the way I want, I will get back on the wagon as soon as I can.

A few Sundays ago, I bore my testimony during Relief Society, which is the women's group at my church. I spoke of how I love my church because it focuses on being more like Christ--better today than we were yesterday--without demanding or expecting perfection--and I can do better. THIS is me doing better.

Final Summer To-Do List Update

2013-09-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

Sigh...now that I have been teaching for four weeks, I think I finally need to admit that summer is over. Honestly, though, this is the first time I really have had time to think about summer being over. My school year is off to a great start (my students are better behaved and working harder than ever before--thank you, Common Core), but it has been BUSY.

Here are the last few things I got done this summer (more or less):

Finish decorating the laundry room, thanks in part to these lovely printables from View Along The Way (#13)
Created a cool "ohana" sign for the Hamel family portrait session and spent about 45 minutes changing me and my son in and out of our street clothes, family t-shirt one, and family t-shirt two (#37)
Made good use of the well-loved yard clippers, lopers, and garden shears my dad gifted to me--and goodness knows I love (almost) anything secondhand! (#46 & 47)
Decided to go a different direction in our tiny entryway and nixed the family photo monogram project (#54 & 55)
Finally surrendered the keys to the church building's nursery cabinets (nearly four months after I received a new calling), simultaneously releasing myself from ever doing a full reveal of the very cute Moon Valley Ward nursery--sometimes you just need to let it go (#59)
Finally pulled the trigger and ordered a tripod, remote, and extra battery for my camera as my birthday gifts from my dad (FYI: I turned thirty in April) (#68)
Relaxed, had fun, and enjoyed myself all summer long (#71)

What I learned this summer:

Honestly, I couldn't be happier with the choices I made this summer. When school started again, I was actually happy to start teaching. Although I worked hard all summer, I felt well-rested, centered, and relaxed. For me, keeping a project-centered life still makes the most sense, and this to-do list and these periodic updates were the best possible way to keep my summer on track.

Now what am I going to do for the other four seasons?

Summer To-Do List Update #3

2013-07-20T09:44:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of myself right now. Summer is nearing its end (for me, anyway), and I know I have accomplished so much! Writing my to-do list back in June was the one of the smartest things I've done recently, and that's saying something (not that I'm one to brag).

After reading a friend's goals for July, I realized my focus needed to be the "less-fun" items on my to-do list. Since I mentioned that on her blog, it made it much easier for me to stay motivated and follow-through on some nagging items from the list. Of course, I made sure to leave plenty of time for the fun options as well.

Here is what I have been up to since my last update:

Went camping in northern Arizona with my son and husband (#35)
Repaired two dry-wall holes (#6)
Repaired holes in the pantry and my son's bedroom doors (#7)
Designed and hung gallery wall in family room, although I can't paint the frames until it cools off (#10)
Nearly finished Brannon's fourth Shutterfly book (#30)
Hung bath photos of Brannon to finish his bathroom (#3)
Bought the hardware and other supplies for my clothesline (#12)
Wrote & posted a lengthy DIY bulletin board tutorial (a bit of #14 and #71 combined)
Made & hung an awesome and almost-entirely-handmade wreath for my front door (#24)
Decided not to sign Brannon up for swim classes this summer--which still counts (#26)
Continued do kid-pins with Brannon, even while camping (#27)
Finished reading The Bean Trees so I can complete a text-analysis on it (#34)
Chose a date for our family photo session and procured cardboard for the "ohana" sign I plan to make for it (#37)
Helped my husband kick-off Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet, which he definitely appreciated (#31)
Read The Perks of Being a Wallflower (#33)
Reviewed a few letters with Brannon--he knows more than I realized (#38)
Completed 3-4 projects from my project drawer (#57)
Deep-cleaned shower and tub stalls, although I still need to tackle the shower doors (#63)
Visited my dad (#69)
Nagged my husband to take care of our NSP residence verification (#66)
Made a decision about my birthday gift from my dad, but I haven't taken action on it just yet (#68)
Tried lots of new recipes, including this delicious gluten- and dairy-free coconut ice cream (#32)

Quite the list, am I right?

PS: Literally while I was typing this, my husband brought me my back-to-school letter from my boss: Monday, August 5 is my report date. I told you summer was ending!

Kids' Art Display & DIY Geometric Cork Board Tutorial

2013-07-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

I am not much of a decorator, but I am one heck of a problem-solver, and that is what this post is all about.

What's the problem?

Ever since my son started attending day care and Primary at church, we have been inundated with crafts, worksheets, and coloring pages. To make matters worse, my son wants to keep every single one. At first, I put them on the fridge and then moved the "less special" ones into a file folder after a day or two. However, my fridge always looked cluttered, and there was no room for notes or reminders because of all of the crafts and papers! This kid definitely needed some dedicated display space and fast!

How did I solve it?

A DIY cork board! You have probably seen lots if pins on Pinterest where people added cork board to old picture frames to make a custom bulletin board. I really liked that idea, and I had the perfect frame on hand. Time to throw caution to the wind and give it a shot!

Here is how it turned out:

Pretty cool, huh? I am quite pleased with it, especially since it meant I killed two birds with one stone. Not only did I make fashionable display space for my son's artwork, but I also found a new use for this old IKEA frame. (It has been haunting me ever since my mom accidentally broke the glass the day I bought it.)

Right now, the bulletin board is hung on a small wall as you enter our kitchen. It fits the space well, but it could use a little "something extra." Growing up, my dad made a big deal about my artwork, and I want to do that for my son as well. Here is what I have in mind for the near future:

A wood frame painted by my son with a wooden cutout of the word "create" attached ($1.49 total at Michael's)
A picture of him fingerpainting in the "create" frame
3 clipboards for simple coloring pages and worksheets, with wooden labels: "at church," "at school," and "at home"

Hopefully, the finished art display will help free up some of that prime real estate on my fridge. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Feeling inspired?

Check out this tutorial so you can make your own DIY bulletin board!

Materials:

Frame of your choice with glass removed (make sure it has a solid backing)
cork board tiles or roll (enough to cover the entire backing board)
sharp X-Acto blade or similar craft knife
Elmer's Glue-All
ruler
pencil
large books or other heavy, flat objects
Ultra-Fine Point Sharpie or ballpoint pen
cutting board

Notes on Materials:

I used the IKEA square RIBBA frame in aluminum ($17.99 at IKEA). As I said, I had it on hand. Any frame that is deep enough to accommodate glass and a mat should work fine.
I opted for cork board tiles since they are thicker (1/4" instead of 1/8") and had better color choices. If you choose to use a cork roll, you may want to attach it to a piece of foam core or corrugated cardboard first and then insert it into the frame. If the cork is too thin, you won't be able to insert tacks firmly into the finished bulletin board.
Honestly, use the sharpest craft knife you can. It makes a huge difference, as you can see from the pictures in step two below.

1. Arranging and attaching the cork board:

The frame I used is roughly 20 inches square, but the largest cork board tiles Michael's sells are 12" square. To get around this, I arranged the tiles in a grid pattern, glued them to the frame's backer board, and trimmed the excess.

You may need to adjust the pattern you follow based on the dimensions of your cork and frame, but the steps should be more or less the same.

Start by dividing your backer board into four equal sections:

To do this, find the center of one side of the board, mark it, and then draw a line across to the center of the board on the other side. Repeat this process with the adjoining side. (You can find the center by measuring the length of the side and dividing it by two. For example, if a side was 10.5" long, the center point would be 5.25".)

Try to keep your lines as straight and perpendicular as possible. To do this with a basic ruler, simply mark the center point several times across the board before making the final line.

When your grid is finished, you are ready to start attaching your cork tiles. To do this, apply Elmer's Glue All to one section of the grid. Use a pattern that will ensure the tile will be firmly attached across its entire surface.

Align one cork tile to the grid and press down firmly.

Place a heavy book or similar object on top of the tile to ensure an even bond. Repeat the gluing process with the next section.

When you place the second tile, make sure to push it as close to the first tile as possible. Your goal is to have no gap between the sides of the two tiles!

Repeat the steps above with remaining sections, carefully aligning the tiles to leave no gaps between them.

When all sections are finished, add additional books so that the entire surface of the cork board is covered, paying special attention to the seams where the tiles connect. The cork will curl away from the moist glue if it is not weighted!

Leave to dry overnight.

2. Trimming the cork board

After you've let the glue dry overnight, remove all of the books or weights. Your board should now look like this:

Place the board face down on a sturdy cutting surface. If necessary, place a cutting board underneath the backer board or move the board so the edge you want to cut hangs an inch or two off of the table.

Use a sharp X-Acto knife or other craft knife to trim away the extra cork, cutting as close to the edge as possible. Set extra pieces of cork aside as they break away. You will use them for the geometric shapes in the next step.

As you may have noticed in the pictures above, small pieces of cork may flake away as you cut. This is totally normal.

Continue all the way around the board until you have trimmed all of the excess cork board. When you're finished, slip it into the frame and secure the backing. The main part of the board is now finished!

You could even leave it just like this, but keep in mind that the shapes I added are functional as well as decorative. If the cork isn't think enough, tacks may not go in far enough to to stick firmly. By doubling the thickness of the cork in those areas, the shapes ensure a secure grasp!

Notes on trimming the cork board:

As I mentioned above, it is very important to use a very sharp X-Acto knife or craft knife. I started with a cheap, dull utility knife I have had for years. After much frustration, I switched to a brand-new X-Acto blade with a curved edge (see similar product information here).

Check out the difference between the two knives:

I told you it made a huge difference!

3. Designing & cutting out your shapes

I chose two simple shapes for my bulletin board--circles and squares--because I knew they would be fairly easy to cut out. You can really use whatever shapes you want, but more complex shapes will require more work and skill. Make sure you use a cutting board and a Sharpie or ballpoint pen for this step!

3A. Designing and cutting out the squares

First, decide the dimensions of your square. I made mine 1.5" because that was the width of my narrowest strip left over from step two and the diameter of the circles I would be making.

Next, mark the leftover strip and cut it to your chosen width. To do this, I first marked the strip at 1.5" inches in several places going the length of the strip. As before, this ensures a straight, even line. Next, I lined up my ruler with the width marks and drew one straight line down the length of the strip. Finally, I followed the line to cut off the extra cork. If you do not have a steady hand or are a bit of a perfectionist, you may want to use the ruler as a guide while you cut.

Now we will mark the individual squares prior to cutting them. For efficiency, I marked all of the widths with a quick hash mark, and then went back and used the ruler to draw a straight line to mark the sides of each square. Since I am making 1.5" squares, I marked every 1.5".

Notice the random half circle? My son decided to help out!
Since I glued the squares with the Sharpie-side down, this little goof is totally harmless. ; )

And now the easy part. Follow the lines to cut out the individual squares. Use a ruler to guide you while you cut if necessary. Repeat the steps above until you have your desired number of squares.

3B. Designing and cutting out the circles

Be forewarned: the circles are quite a bit more time- and patience-consuming than the squares. As with the square, you should first decide the size of your circle and find a circular object that matches it. I used the lid from a medicine bottle and, like the square, it was 1.5" wide.

Next, place your lid or other object on the center of one of the strips you set aside. Trace around the lid with the Sharpie or ballpoint pen, making sure to stay as close to the lid as possible all the way around. (To do this, you may need to hold the Sharpie at a sharp angle as you trace.) Keep one hand on the lid to keep it from moving--unless you are taking one-handed pictures for your blog! ; )

For the next circle, repeat the steps above. Make sure it doesn't overlap with the first circle, but keep them fairly close together so you don't waste any cork. Continue tracing circles until you have your desired amount.

Are you ready for the hard part? It's time to cut out the circles! Since I cut my circles out before my squares, this was a huge trial-and-error experience for me. Believe me when I say that this is the easiest way to cut these puppies out!

First, separate the circles so they are each on their own individual "squarish" piece of cork. No need to measure or draw lines for this--just make sure you don't cut into any of the traced circles. You will wind up with a set of pieces that look something like this:

Next, trim all of the excess cork from around the circle. Again, you don't have to be precise--just trim off as much as possible without actually cutting into the circle.

Use an X-Acto blade to make the final cut. Hold the circle down with one hand, and carefully cut out the circle, removing any excess cork as it breaks away. Go slowly--this part takes a lot of patience to do it right!

Ta-daah! Take a brief moment to enjoy a job well-done before realizing you have X more to do and you may have been a little crazy to choose circles in the first place. Repeat the steps above with all remaining circle pieces.

As you can see, my circle is a little imperfect,
but you can hardly see the flaws when it is attached to the bulletin board.

4. Arranging & attaching your shapes

Now that all the hard work is over, this actually starts getting a little fun! Once you have cut out all of your desired shapes, arrange them on your finished bulletin board in whatever pattern you choose. The sky is the limit!

I used a grid pattern with alternating lines of circles and squares. First, I eyeballed the spacing to get the basic layout. Next, I used a ruler to line up the rows and even out the spacing.

When your pattern is all set, glue on your shapes one at a time, making sure to keep the pattern intact. (I used a ruler to make sure my alignment and spacing stayed dead-on.) Make sure to apply the glue on the side with your Sharpie or pen markings, and use a glue pattern that will cover the whole surface of the shape. Press down firmly when you place the shape on the bulletin board.

When all of the shapes have been glued, carefully place heavy books or similar objects on the bulletin board to keep the cork from lifting up as it dries. Leave it to dry overnight.

The next day, remove the books and you're done!

C'est finis!

I am linking to Emily A. Clark's Kids' Spaces Link-Up Party! Pop on over to check out other great kids' spaces and a chance to win a $500 Pottery Barn Kids gift card.

20 Things I Am Grateful For This Week

2013-07-08T18:24:00.000-07:00

In order to streamline my posting process, I will be using the above "Attitude of Gratitude" banner each week--or at least until I get bored with it and make a new one.

Traditions
Priesthood blessings
The loving service of my husband
Modern plumbing
My son's well-timed patience and obedience
Homemade coconut ice cream
Successfully being a one-car family
Bicycles
ASU's shuttle buses
Timeouts
Counting to 3 (or 5 or 10)
Backyards
Funny moments
Good memories
Photography
Projects
Personal revelation
Patience
Forgiveness
Laughing with my son over silly things

20 Things I Am Grateful For This Week

2013-06-30T13:37:00.000-07:00

Air conditioning (check the highs for Phoenix this week and you'll understand why)
Personal progress
A happy, fulfilling marriage
A clean house
Nap time
40% off one-item coupons
Learning new skills
The ready availability of fresh fruits and vegetables
Understanding my husband without saying a word
My internet-research skills
Another opportunity to contribute to Work Your Wardrobe
Making a difference
My artwork
Hanging the gallery wall frames in my living room
Choosing the fabrics for my son's new quilt (even if it took an hour and a half)
My son's increasing patience and obedience
Forgiveness for both my son and I when we slip up
Hearing "Mommy, I love you" ten times a day
Visiting my visiting teaching sisters with Nicole
Gluten-free chocolate chip cookie dough

Summer To-Do List Update #2

2013-06-26T18:04:00.000-07:00

Hooray! I am finally done with summer workshops, which means I have more time to myself and my to-do list. Of course, I do still have a munchkin running around, and we have to pick up my husband at 2pm each day, so it's not like my time is totally unlimited.

I am enjoying the extra time around the house, and Brannon and I have spent a lot of quality time together. It is true that he slows me down, but I think it is easier to enjoy the moment at a slower pace. I love that he is participating in my summer to-list items--sometimes as a spectator, and sometimes as a helper. I think my favorite part is the interest he has taken in crafting and cooking. Well, I call it "crafting," but really it amounts to cutting up construction paper and gluing it in random ways.

Here is what I have accomplished since my last update:

Bought the fabric for Brannon's new bed quilt (#8)
Made a DIY bulletin board out of an old IKEA frame & hung it in the kitchen for displaying Brannon's artwork (#9)
Ran into Stephanie twice at her summer jobs, but I don't think this counts as "hanging out" (#50)
Used my Gap gift card--with 80 cents to spare (#38)
Made Father's Day gifts (#65)
Finally made my mom's jewelry set, and I can't wait to give it to her (#40)
Got back on the weekly-gratitude-and-Everyday-Celiac-posts wagon, and I plan to continue (#58) (see here and here)
Sent the HTML Pinterest code to Kim of Work Your Wardrobe (#51)
Deep cleaned my son's carpet (twice) and the recliner in his room--it smells much better (#45)
Tried to hang spice racks, but we need different hardware (#61)
Visited my dad briefly, but I need to see him more (#69)
Bought Brannon and his cousin matching outfits for the family photo session (#37)
Tried new recipes and dishes, and already planning to try more (#32)
Looked into swim classes for Brannon, but I may put it off until next summer (#26)
Relaxed, had fun, and enjoyed myself in a variety of ways! (#71)

Wow, I accomplished a lot more than I thought. That's what I love about to-do lists--they keep you on task AND show you how much you have done. For me, it's almost always more than I thought!

Who doesn't love a sense of accomplishment?!

20 Things I Am Grateful For This Week

2013-06-23T18:36:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've done a gratitude post, and I am starting to feel the loss of it in my daily life. It seems like a small thing, but anticipating this list each week puts a brighter spin on my entire life. If you are looking for opportunities to be grateful, you won't have time to complain. Every day is filled with blessings, so I have no reason not to do these posts each week.

My son
Summer vacation
Professional growth
New challenges
A renewed since in my creative instinct
New friends
Relief Society (read about it here)
Forgiveness
the Gospel (read about my beliefs here)
8 1/2 years of marriage--all of them real, honest, challenging, and life-changing
Opportunities to save money
Family
Teaching Relief Society
Finger painting
A backyard
Gluten-free Chex cereals
Smoothies
The ability to let go of the small stuff
Watching my husband play softball
Being able to put others first when it really counts

2013 Father's Day Gifts

2013-06-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

One of the items on my 2013 Summer To-Do List is making Father's Day gifts, and I am happy to say I got it accomplished!

Brannon made my husband a craft at school, so I didn't have to worry about making anything for him.

The truck is carrying "Pop Rocks" candy in the back--it took us a second to get the play on words.

However, I still needed to think of something practical yet inexpensive for our dads. Neither my father nor my father-in-law like the idea of their kids spending money on them, and both would rather have no gift at all than a gift they don't really need. At the same time, they both cherish their children and family memories. Since I am a creative genius (and so humble), I was able to make something for each of them that (I think) they really liked.

Dad # 1: A Woodworker

My dad is a woodworker, so a few months ago I stockpiled about 100 of those one-inch foam brushes. He uses them to apply stains and whatnot, and they were on sale at Michael's for about four cents apiece.

To make an otherwise boring gift something special, I used an Ultra-Fine Point Sharpie to write family sayings, traditions and memories on the handle of the brushes.

Practical, inexpensive, creative and family-oriented--this gift could not be more perfect for my father. He loved them, and he was very impressed by my creativity. Of course, he is probably a little biased...

Adapting It

To make this work for the man in your life, try to think of something inexpensive he uses often at home, at work, or for his hobby. Buy a lot of this item and use a Sharpie to write a memory or family saying on each one.

If you are stuck for ideas, consider buying a pack of his favorite white athletic socks and a laundry marker. You can write the messages on the toe of each sock where they won't be seen. Alternatively, you could select one larger object, like a soccer ball, chef's apron or mouse pad, and write multiple messages on it.

Dad #2: A General Contractor & Father of Seven

As my father-in-law's main gift, all of the kids pitched in a small amount of money to buy him a Harbor Freight Tools gift card. Even if each of the siblings just pitch in $10, we would still end up with a sizable gift. If you have a lot of siblings and a dad who is hard to shop for, this is a great option.

For the second part of his gift, my sisters-in-law and I decided we needed to do a family portrait. With such a large family (seven doesn't include in-laws or grandkids), it can be difficult to get everyone together for a family shot, and since one sister is getting ready to go on an 18-month mission and another sister lives out of state, it will be our last opportunity for awhile.

Since we can't take the photo until my sister-in-law visits in July (that's her on the laptop via Skype), I volunteered to make this coupon to give to him on Sunday.

I started with a group shot we took at my house a few months ago, loaded it into PicMonkey, and added all of the funny embellishments and words. For my in-laws, funny is always a better option than sentimental! When I was done, I printed it on regular printer paper (somewhat accidentally), folded it up, and put it in an envelope.

I have lots of ideas about the actual photo session, but I'll share those a little later this summer. Hopefully they all work out!

Adapting It

If you aren't familiar with PicMonkey, you should check it out. It is really easy to use, and it offers so many amazing ways to customize photos. You know all those pictures you see on Pinterest with text super-imposed on them? That's PicMonkey!

You could use this same idea to make a coupon for just about anything--yard work, dinner, massage, a family hike. As long as your dad will like it and you have a picture to go with it, it works!

If you already have a nice family portrait, you could customize it in PicMonkey by adding funny features like I did above or a thoughtful quote about how awesome your father is. Print it on photo paper and put it in a nice frame.

Dad #3: Two Awesome Grandpas

Brannon being the independent and creative child he is, I knew he would have fun making something for his grandpas. Four also seemed like the perfect age to start such a tradition, and I had the perfect craft: a finger-painted caterpillar.

We used this pin's picture tutorial (the link is dead), but made a few alterations. Make sure you let the paint dry between steps!

Instead of a canvas, I used a sheet of large white craft foam cut in two.
The head of the caterpillar is made from two fists.
The whites of the caterpillar's eyes, the yellow spots, and the blue in the B are all made from Brannon's fingerprints.
Everything in black was made using a black Sharpie.

To "wrap" the gifts, I rolled each picture like a scroll and tied it with a bow. Brannon couldn't wait to give them to his grandpas!

If you want to turn this craft into a learning opportunity, check out this awesome website. It uses real-life macro photography to show the full life cycle of one giant swallowtail butterfly. Brannon loved it! You can also follow up by reading "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle.

What did you do for Father's Day this year?

Summer To-Do List Update #1

2013-06-14T12:09:00.000-07:00

I am feeling a little under-motivated, so now seemed as good a time as any to review my progress on my Summer To-Do list thus far. (If you haven't read my list yet, you can check it out here.)

I am two weeks into summer vacation, and this is what I have accomplished:

I finished and hung my fish sketch & painting (#1 & 2)
I had a picnic with my son (#4)
I got my hair cut and colored (#5)
I completed Audrey's 7x7 fashion remix (#19)
I found a good place to store our Slip N' Slide (#25)
We completed some "kid pin" like activities (#27)
We played a few founds of Zingo to work on Brannon's number skills (#49)

My thoughts:

It may not seem like I did a lot, but I think I was still able to keep to my "project a day" goal so far. The fish sketch was a time-consuming process, so it was essentially the only project I worked on for the first seven days or so. You'll see pics of it soon when I complete #18: "Fish Sketch Post."

Picnicking with Brannon was, simply put, a pleasure. While I was making chicken salad sandwiches for dinner last night, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to dine al fresco. I spread a blanket in the backyard, brought our food out on a tray, and dug in. Because our puppy loves to beg, we used an IKEA side table rather than eating off our laps, and sweet, adorable Brannon pulled up two chairs while I was inside getting the food ready. When dinner was over, we alternately played with Doc (our puppy) and laid on our backs, staring up at the sky. It was completely impromptu, totally relaxed, and we both really enjoyed it. Mother-son quality time at its finest!

I am so glad to have short hair again, and I am kind of loving being a brunette. I can wear so many more colors now! If you haven't seen my new do, you can check it out here.

Participating in the 7x7 fashion remix was so much fun, and I would totally do it again! If you want to see how other bloggers remixed their wardrobes, check out Audrey's link-up page.

If you have a Slip N' Slide and you don't know how to store it, considering shoving it into an old pillowcase before you throw it in a closet. That way you don't have to worry about folding it, and it is less likely to get tangled up with other items or fall on your head.

I planned to do "kid pin" activities each Friday, but I don't like to plan ahead, and my husband has decided to drive to school on the days I don't need the car for work. The audacity, right? In the end, that meant I couldn't go shopping for things like bouncing bubble and homemade goo ingredients, so I had to make due with what we have at home. As long as he is not watching TV and we're doing something together, I think I am on the right track. Last week, Brannon and I spent much of our time in the craft room playing with construction paper, scissors, paper punches, and glue. At Brannon's request, we did spend a bit of time in the backyard "writing messages" on our block wall using sidewalk chalk.

Brannon can count to ten or twelve fairly well (although he usually skips seven), and he is great at counting objects. However, he seems to be hit or miss on recognizing written numbers. Luckily, my mom bought him "Zingo 1-2-3" for his birthday last month. Zingo 1-2-3 is kind of like Bingo, but it focuses on helping kids recognize, count, and add numbers. Brannon loves it! If you have a pre-schooler, I highly recommend you check it out here or shop for it here.

Lots of text, no pics. Being an English teacher is my only excuse!

Now I am off to update my original list. Hooray to crossing off completed items!

7x7 Remix: Shoeless Flo from Hannibal, MO

2013-06-12T23:32:00.000-07:00

If you do not get the reference in my title, it probably means two things--1) You were not involved in theater in high school and 2) You are not a nerd. If you do get the reference in my title, it means one very important thing--YOU ROCK!

In my desire to embark on fun new blogging adventures, I decided to participate in the 7x7 fashion remix link-up advertised on Audrey's awesome fashion blog, Putting Me Together, and dreamed up by Natalia at Ma Nouvelle Mode.

What is a fashion remix, you ask? Essentially, a 7x7 remix requires you to choose 7 clothing items (tops, bottoms, and shoes) and combine them in different ways to make 7 different outfits. Accessories of all kinds--hats, bags, jewelry, scarves, etc.--are all "free" items that don't count towards your 7 pieces.

Why "shoeless" Flo? Lots of bloggers expressed concern about shoes being a limited item, so I decided to skirt the issue by not wearing any. Since my shoes are my greatest wardrobe weakness, it was no big loss.

What a rebel I am! Now, on to the remix.

First, my clothing items:
I stuck with fairly basic items for two reasons: First, I can pair them with just about anything; Second, I wanted to stay true to myself. Although my style is solidly in the eclectic lane, I gravitate towards solids more than anything else, especially when it comes to tops. I like investing in versatile, classic, and durable clothing pieces that I can mix-up with a variety of less-expensive jewelry and other accessories. If I don't think I can wear it for several years, and it's not a gift or dirt cheap, it probably won't wind up in my closet.

Black pencil skirt Target
Teal crew-neck t-shirt Ann Taylor
Pink v-neck t-shirt Gap
White button-down shirt Ann Taylor
Fuchsia 3/4-sleeved cardigan Wet Seal
Black short-sleeved peplum cardigan JC Penney
Skinny jeans Levi's

Next, my outfits:

If you've ever wondered how anal-retentive I am, the answer is very. Proof of this is the fact that I actually wrote down a list of 14 possible combinations before I tried on anything or took a single picture. Hyper-organization may be nerdy, but so am I. Also, it helped make sure that I met my quota of seven outfits, and then some. There are eleven total, and I am super proud of them all! I might even wear a few one day. ; )

Remix pieces:

white button-down

skinny jeans

Accessorized with:

gray fedora with flower applique Charming Charlie

black and white floral print scarf Banana Republic

antique chandelier crystal pendant necklace upcycled

Outfit 1: This is the type of outfit that gives me great confidence, partly because I know I am flirting with crazy-town by wearing that hat, and partly because it helps me get in touch with my inner artist. Keeping the clothing items simple creates the perfect canvas to showcase my more standout accessories.

Remix pieces:

teal crew neck t-shirt

black short-sleeved cardigan

black pencil skirt

Accessorized with:

sterling silver hoop earrings Kohl's

black and white floral print scarf Banana Republic

Outfit 2: Think outside the box. I fiddled with several belts before deciding to re-purpose the scarf in the previous picture as a sash. I decided to forego a necklace to keep the focus at my waist--now beautifully narrowed by the cardigan and sash--and keep the outfit from feeling busy.

Remix pieces:

pink v-neck t-shirt

white button-down shirt

black pencil skirt

Accessorized with:

sterling silver mini-hoops Kohl's

shell necklace vintage, inherited from my mom

shell bracelet Hawaii swap meet

Outfit 3: I feel gorgeous whenever I wear this pencil skirt, so I wanted to try a more casual look for it. Tying a crisp button-down can give it a more relaxed vibe, and the accessories can really help set the tone for an outfit. Throw on a pair of flat sandals, and it works.

Remix pieces:

teal crew-neck t-shirt

black short-sleeved peplum cardigan

skinny jeans

Accessorized with:

black cloisonne earrings Wal-Mart

black stone beaded necklace vintage, inherited from my mom

black and gold bangles gift

Outfit 4: It took me at least a year or two to work up my courage to wear skinny jeans, and I shopped very carefully when I finally decided to buy some. Although they have shrunk quite a bit and may soon be retired, I liked this pair because it has a darker rinse and (formerly) a more relaxed fit. Does anyone else obsess over how skinny jeans make their butt, hips and thighs look?

Remix pieces:

teal crew-neck t-shirt

fuchsia 3/4 sleeved cardigan

skinny jeans

Accessorized with:

green t-shirt scarf my 1st Pinterest project

gold and fuchsia earrings local bead store

gold bangles Wal-Mart

Outfit 5: This is a pretty standard casual look for me. In my opinion, every outfit is better with the addition of scarves, dangling earrings, and bangles. Also, I can wear whatever colors I feel like in whatever combination I want--rules, shmules.

Remix pieces:

teal crew-neck t-shirt

fuchsia 3/4 sleeved cardigan

black pencil skirt

Accessorized with:

multi-colored printed scarf Gap

sterling silver earrings vintage, inherited from my mother

sterling silver necklace with charm-holder pendant & charms collected over time

silver cuff Charming Charlie

Outfit 6: Now, to class it up a bit. Choose your scarves carefully--they can dictate the look and feel of your entire outfit. I get compliments every time I wear this scarf, and I love everything about it: bright colors, bold patterns, great width, awesome length, and very lightweight, soft fabric.

Remix pieces:

pink v-neck t-shirt

white button-down shirt

fuchsia 3/4 sleeved cardigan

skinny jeans

Accessorized with:

sterling silver mini-hoops Kohl's

sterling silver necklace and cherub pendant gift

ribbon belt Express (it came with a shirt dress)

sterling silver beaded bracelet upcycled

Outfit 7: This preppy outfit seems like the perfect choice for my son's first day of kindergarten...except that it will still be in the triple digits when I drop him off. Layering pieces can help your wardrobe transition from season to season and expand your style options.

Remix pieces:

pink v-neck t-shirt

black pencil skirt

Accessorized with:

sterling silver earrings vintage, inherited from my mother

pink, gray and white silk scarf souvenir from Canada

silver hinge bracelet Charming Charlie

Outfit 8: I am in love with this outfit--I can't wait to wear it when I start teaching again! A silk scarf is the perfect way to dress up a simple t-shirt for the office, especially when it is too warm for a blazer.

Remix pieces:

pink v-neck t-shirt

fuchsia 3/4 sleeved cardigan

black pencil skirt

Accessorized with:

turquoise earring & necklace set Charming Charlie

silver cuff Charming Charlie

Outfit 9: This necklace and earring set was only $13 (bought with a gift card), but it packs a pretty big punch. Statement necklaces are another trendy way to introduce a new color to the mix. I love how eclectic this outfit is.

Remix pieces:

pink v-neck t-shirt

fuchsia 3/4 sleeved cardigan

skinny jeans

Accessorized with:

adventurine earrings local rock & gem festival

gold necklace with malachite pendant local rock & gem festival

green braided belt Goodwill (1/2 price sale)

green and gold bangles Wal-Mart

Outfit 10: I often wear this set of accessories together, regardless of whether or not there is any green in the rest of the outfit. If your accessories match and complement the other colors in the outfit, you wind up with a pulled-together, slightly unpredictable look.

Remix pieces:

white button-down shirt

black pencil skirt

Accessorized with:

turquoise earring & necklace set Charming Charlie

wide gold belt The Limited

Outfit 11: Remember that inner artist I mentioned before? Well, she just became the creative director of a major corporation. At least, that's what goes through my head every time I look at this outfit. The structure of the shirt, skirt, and belt make them perfect for work, but the turquoise jewelry sets adds a much-needed dose of color, creativity, and fun. I think I will be wearing this to my next "power meeting" (aka Open House 2014).

Which outfit is your favorite?

Did I inspire you to remix your wardrobe?

Want to check out more great remixes?

Click on button below and head to Audrey's link-up page at Putting Me Together. Thanks for visiting!

2013 Summer To-Do List

2013-06-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

The Rationale

Summer vacation is arguably the number one perk of being a teacher. A guaranteed two-months off every year makes things like disgruntled parents, piles of grading, and disappointing paydays worth it. At the same time, I am the type of ~~teacher~~ person who thrives on structure and a sense of accomplishment. While I can spend summer vacation doing (pretty much) whatever I want, I know I will be happiest if I can look back those first few weeks of August and say, "Look what I did!" rather than, "Where did the time go?" How will I accomplish this, you ask? Enter my to-do list.

When I say "tackling life one to-do list at a time," I mean it...literallly. I use to-do lists at work, at home, and in my head. They bring order to chaos, bring me the satisfaction of crossing items off one by one, and release me from the anxiety of feeling like I haven't done "enough"--and trust me, that last one is a HUGE accomplishment. They also keep me from spending hours of my free time on tasks that don't really matter...like watching TV, staring at the wall, and--you guessed it--perusing Pinterest. Whenever I start feeling overwhelmed, lazy, or unmotivated--I know it's time for a to-do list.

This summer, I want to live a more project-oriented life. I want to serve my husband and my son. I want to challenge myself, reinvigorate my creativity, and learn new skills. I want to be a better mom and friend. That is what I will build my summer around, and this to-do list will help me do that.

The Plan

Today, I write my list. Tomorrow, and for the rest of the summer, I will make every effort to do or at least work on one item from the list each day. When I find myself hating the invention of Netflix and shaking my head in disbelief over the time I've already spent on shows like "30 Rock" and "Parks and Recreation," I will pull up this list and find something better to do. To help keep me honest, I will track my progress via roughly weekly posts on how I've spent my time and what I've accomplished, hopefully inspiring one or two people in the process.

The List

Nota bene: Be prepared for a very, very long list. I like to itemize projects so I can cross off items throughtout the process. Tedious, right?

BTW: If an item has been ~~strikedout~~, then it moved from "to-do" and became a "to done." ; )

~~Finish my fish sketch~~
~~Hang my fish sketch~~
~~Add bath photos of Brannon or other artwork to finish out the hall bathroom~~
~~Have a picnic with Brannon~~
~~Get my haircut~~
~~Repair the holes in the walls~~
~~Patch the holes in the closet doors (all from Brannon)~~
~~Start Brannon's bed quilt~~ (Pattern & fabric bought)
~~Set-up a display system for Brannon's art & worksheets~~ (I'll add more later)
~~Do something with unused picture frames & family room walls~~
Hang Derek's guitars (although this is really a honey-do item)
Install a clothes line on the back porch (even if I never use it) (Bought the hardware--waiting for hubby's help)
~~Finish decorating laundry room--wall art, homemade bunting, picture frames~~
Memo board tutorial post
~~7x7 Putting Me Together fashion link-up~~
Sew a skirt
Sew something from Goodwill fabric
Make infinity scarf for Sande
Make blue and white infinity scarf
~~Make a wreath or other door hanging for the front door~~
~~Find a good place to store the Slip N' Slide~~
~~Sign Brannon up for swim classes~~ (Decided to do that next summer)
Do one "kid pin" with Brannon each week (ongoing)
~~Plant something with Brannon~~
~~Paint something with Brannon~~
Create Brannon's fourth Shutterfly book (So VERY close to finished--just waiting for hubby's letter)
Help my husband lose weight (ongoing, but started)
Try new recipes (ongoing)
~~Read The Perks of Being a Wall Flower~~
Do work stuff that shall not be named nor fully committed to (working on it)
~~Take a road trip~~
Hang hooks in the master bedroom
~~Hamel family portrait session~~
~~Use my Gap gift card~~
~~Use my Target gift card~~
~~Make the necklace and earring set for my mom~~
~~Weed the front yard (again) and treat it with pre-emergent spray~~
Purge all closets and storage areas
~~Decide whether or not I should continue to hoard Brannon's baby clothes~~
Start taking Doc for regular walks (started & he LOVES it)
~~Deep clean carpets, hopefully erasing the pet smell from every carpeted room in our house~~
~~Buy yard clippers~~
~~Use yard clippers to clean up bushes in the front yard~~
Help Brannon learn his letters (ongoing)
Help Brannon learn to recognize written numbers (ongoing)
Spend more time with Stephanie
~~Send Pinterest code to Kim~~
~~Transfer features and shut down "To Blog or Not to Blog"~~ (decided I may as well ignore it & leave it up--no shortage of space on the internet, right?)
~~Try to make gluten-free play dough...cheaply~~ (decided to skip this project)
~~Make family-photo monogram~~ (decided to skip this project)
~~Family-photo monogram post~~
Wash the car
Continue weekly gratitude and The Everyday Celiac posts (ongoing)
~~Moon Valley Ward nursery post~~ (letting go of this one, too)
~~Identify & commit to family chores~~
~~Hang spice racks~~
Repair grout in dining room
~~Deep clean shower and tub stalls~~
~~Deep clean and whiten bed pillows~~
~~Father's day gifts~~
~~Send verification of residence to NSP~~
Get knives back...hopefully
~~Make a decision about my birthday gift from my dad and act on it~~
~~Spend time with my dad~~
~~RELAX, HAVE FUN, and ENJOY MYSELF~~

20 Things I Am Grateful For These Two Weeks

2013-05-26T16:19:00.003-07:00

Ever have those insanely busy weekends where the days seem both unbelievably long and all-too short? That was definitely last weekend for me. From Thursday to Sunday, we did something with my husband's family every night, and essentially all of Saturday was spent preparing for, having, and cleaning up after my son's fourth birthday party--and I loved every minute of it.

If you haven't guessed yet, said busy-ness, and the fact that I now have three days left in the school year, prevented me from posting last week. I hope you missed me!

Family
My creativity
My always appreciative and demonstrative son
An over-indulgent husband to shop for groceries
Family and friends to help Brannon celebrate his special day
Grandparents and great-grandparents
Water play
The entire Nelson family
One week left in school
Supportive administrators
Intelligent, articulate, and literate parents
Being a teacher and loving it (usually)
Self-confidence
Family togetherness
Sharing once-in-a-lifetime moments
A communicative and patient pre-school teacher
Improvement in my son's social and tracing skills
Hope for the future
My husband's dedication to school
A welcoming home for all my loved ones

20 Reasons I Love Being A Mom

2013-05-14T22:49:00.001-07:00

20 Reasons I LOVE being a mom:

one: company

two: unexpected humor

three: progress

four: naptime

five: surprises

six: innocence

seven: grandparents

eight: freedom

nine: curiosity

ten: What the...? moments

eleven: sweet ignorance

twelve: quiet moments

thirteen: Christmas

fourteen: growing up

fifteen: mischief

sixteen: cousins

seventeen: Halloween

eighteen: playfulness

nineteen: aunts & uncles

twenty: traditions

And the list could go on and on...

Mom-dom

2013-05-10T21:16:00.001-07:00

I am making a commitment to keep my laptop closed and do "mom things" for the rest of the weekend. I don't know what my husband and son have planned for Mother's Day--if anything--but I am going to celebrate by being the best mom I can be--at least for the weekend. For me, that mostly means spending less time on the computer and more time playfully chasing after my son (and our new puppy).

Have a great Mother's Day!

20 Things I Am Grateful For This Week

2013-05-07T18:31:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I get frustrated because I can't publish a post when I want to--but then I remember this pledge to myself: "Live a life worth blogging about."

Recognition for a job well-done
The fulfillment of being a mother
Opportunities to connect with people I have never met before
Friends who give great advice--even if I don't want to hear it
Old friends who keep in touch
My time as a church nursery leader
Getting at least one final day with our nursery class
Yard art
Learning to let go and make peace instead of trying to make a point
Continuing to whisper instead of yell--at least more often than I used to
Compliments!
Inspiration!
Attention!
Moderate culinary success
Love
Patience
Understanding
The improvement & determination of my students
Raising the bar & standing by my instruction
Learning new skills

Work it, girl!

2013-05-06T18:03:00.001-07:00

My first outfit as a contributor to Work Your Wardrobe was posted today. Check it out if you get a chance:

The Budding Photographer

2013-05-04T15:18:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, time-outs can be productive. Recently, Brannon used one of his to rediscover the cheap, old digital camera we let him use "to refine his craft." (In case your wondering, it was in his toy box, buried under his stuffed animals. Brannon discovered this by removing every. single. stuffed. animal.)

In the time that has followed, Brannon has spent much of his free time building his portfolio and trying to learn the lesson that cameras, while fun, are not toys, and therefore should not be banged on the kitchen table when they "don't work."

Here is what he has turned out so far:

Call me an idiot if you must, but handing that camera over to him has made his spring, and I don't regret it. He has even started to show improvement in using the camera correctly (in other words, far fewer finger shots). Is it too early to start calling him the next Ansel Adams? Yeah, you're right. I'll wait until he's five.

Say cheese!

20 Things I Am Grateful For

2013-04-28T21:09:00.000-07:00

Chaperoning Relay for Life
Warm, freshly-baked gluten-free cookies
A healthy child
Blogging progress and success!
Grading progress!
Talking about art to people who "get it"
Dr. Who
My husband--just 'cause
A clean car
Making it to church in time to hear the end of a really great talk
A cute, cheery nursery classroom
An amazingly helpful child (he has started clearing AND rinsing his own dishes)
Working with students and teachers who can step-up in a crisis
Knowing I make a difference
Spring flowers
A beautiful, think green yard
Fresh flowers on my dining table
Awesome, funny in-laws
Birthday money!
Knowing that, at 30, I have a life I can be proud of

20 Things I Am Grateful For

2013-04-23T22:20:00.000-07:00

I know this is a bit late--life (pleasantly) got in the way!

Delicious gluten-free birthday cake
Nearly equally delicious gluten-free pizza
Lots of family and friends to celebrate with
Ultimate acceptance of and loss of fear from entering "that decade" of my life
A stress-free way of feeding an undetermined yet definitely large group of people
A beautiful family (meaning me, my husband, and son) who daily prove that the past 30 years have not been wasted
Gift cards!
Birthday wishes from family, friends (online and in real-life), co-workers, and even students
The most thoughtful instructional aide EVER
Recognizing getting older as something to be proud of--a privilege rather than a punishment
Faith in myself, my husband, and the future
A new nightlight for my son
The presence of my father and one of my two Best Friends at my birthday party
My mother's kind heart
My niece, Rui
Coworkers I can depend on
The continuance of a tradition--Indian food on my birthday
Friends I can count on--even if it is just for help decorating for a party
Clever ideas & people who are amused by them
My son who lights up my world every day

20 Things I Am Grateful For This Week

2013-04-14T22:17:00.000-07:00

Antibiotics
Sick days
Immediate Care at Dearing Family Medicine
Kleenex
Cough drops
Understanding work superiors
The absence of flies (long story)
My favorite gluten-free cornbread recipe
My pint-size sous chef
A husband who still remembers my favorite flower
Family
Putting paint on canvas!
My artistic abilities
The Freedom Writers (the people, not just the movie)
Hand sanitizer
Children's Mucinex
Allergy medicine
Google+ Communities
A clean house
Plenty of clean underwear

Sick Day #2 To-Do List

2013-04-10T11:17:00.001-07:00

I am feeling much better today, yet I am spending even more time in front of the computer than I did yesterday. Unacceptable! Here is another to-do list to give me some direction.

Clean toilets & sinks
Do laundry...again
Sweep floors
Mop floors?
Change pillowcases
Disinfect and make Brannon's bed
Disinfect kitchen...again
Work on my fish sketch
Read

Three things to note:

Some of these items were carried over from my last to-do list. I'm okay with that.
Occasionally, my to-do lists function more as a "have you thought about doing" list than anything else--inspiration rather than obligation. This is definitely that type of to-do list.
I love this picture of Brannon, even if it is 2-3 years old. It always reminds me of our great times in the old neighborhood park.