DIY Mummies!

I normally do not decorate for Halloween but instead, I decorate for Autumn. I love the look of colorful leaves and pumpkins. I'm not big into the scary scene. I find it tacky. But I have a little spooky feel in my bones this year and wanted to decorate just a little bit for Halloween.

See these little guys? They are my sailors. They adorn my mantle in the summer along with other nautical items.


As if they do not already look spooky enough , you are going to see how I turned them into even more spooky looking creatures.

Mummies!

I found an old yellowed stained piece of cloth (I have no idea why I was keeping it) that was perfect for my plan. I ripped it into shreds and wrapped the sailors. Now they are dead and well preserved until after October.


Pretty cool huh? I also had some fake spiders and web to help decorate. I may have to take it down because I hate spiders and frankly this stuff is freaking me out. eeesh.

Lights out!


What if you do not have a figurines to mummify? Wrap a candle and glue googly eyes on it. Your mummy will light up and it will look awesome!


Ive shared this at:
the-diyers at homecomingmn
friday-link-party at craftionary
diy-vintage-chic
freedom-fridays at myturnforus
twiggstudios sunday-show-off

Twenty Two

Twenty Two-That's the number of years ago I gave birth to a beautiful healthy baby girl. A baby girl the doctors said id never be able to have (Prayers work).

Twenty Two years ago, I was twenty two. So my baby girl is now half my age. (You do the math).
Its hard to believe. It seems just like yesterday. I have had so much fun raising her. She's always been a good child and still is.

I started the day off by making her the traditional Birthday "A" shaped Initial pancakes. I missed doing this the past 4 years she was in college. Well, I actually think the first year of college I mailed them to her. ha ha.


I get just as excited on her birthday as she does. I love getting her little gifts , going out with family and friends to celebrate and birthday cake. and , well, Its a celebration to me too. I'm so happy she's mine. I don't want her to grow up. I want her to stay young forever.

When she gets off work she will dig into her gifts and tonight we will meet with family and have dinner to celebrate.

Wow, Twenty Two. Can we just take the twenty part off?

Happy Birthday Ashley!!!!

Song Sunday

She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying
But the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older
And she's three more steps behind

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even knows she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

She is yearning
For shelter and affection
That she never found at home
She is searching
For a hero to ride in
To ride in and save the day
And in walks her prince charming
And he knows just what to say
Momentary lapse of reason
And she gives herself away

If judgement looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we never even met her

He is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction

 
~Casting Crowns- "Does Anybody Hear Her?"

iUpdated

Ok so we all know what's going on with the iPhones. They launched a new update called iOS7.0.

I will confess that I just got my first very own iPhone 4s just 5 days ago and yesterday I rushed to get the new update as soon as it came out.

Its not to bad but I wish I would have just waited and read feed backs and looked at other peoples new look.

Here are three things I do not like so far:

1. There is no longer a quick "tap to tweet" or "tap to post on FB" any more in the notification center. I loved this on the old version. I don't care about going all the way into my app to add a status update.

Notification center

One alternative is to use Siri, which can now post to both Twitter and Facebook. Simply say "Post to Facebook" or "post to Twitter" and then dictate what you want to say. That's if you don't mind talking out loud to your phone in public. Kind of weird huh?

2. The new look of the Icons seem cartoonish to me. I like the more elegant look.

New main screen app look
 
 And if you double click your center button, it will bring up the most recent apps you visited. Then you just swipe them to close them. But I just don't get what the purpose of this is.

Double click to see most recent viewed apps
 
3. It seems to be sucking the life out of my battery but of course that could be because of me playing around with it. But I haven't played around with it nearly as much as the first day I had it and the battery lasted all day. Its been half a day now and my battery is half gone. hmmm.
 
Now, Here are three things I Do like:
 
1. I like the new camera features.
 
 
 
You can edit them right there before or after you take them. There are also choices of tones and tints to use. Also you no longer have to use the on screen snapper. You can use the side buttons on the phone to snap a picture. Ok, that could have already been there but I just found it.
 
2. You can change Siri to a man. ha! Hes called "General"
 
3. Lots of new Ring and alert tones!
 
Its going to just take some getting used to. I think I will grow to like it. The settings and such do not seem to have changed any so that's good. Maybe just added some extra ones.
 
Now, Id love to hear some pro and cons from my blogger friends. Share with me in comments.
 

Song Sunday

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering

When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow who suffers from being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight

~Third Day- "Cry Out For Jesus"


Lucky Me

I can't normally call myself lucky. I have the worst luck in the world. I can't even win a prize out of gumball machine. It's that bad.

I entered a give-away to win a beautiful ceramic message board from Botanic Bleu. I will sometimes enter different blog give-aways but never think I will be a winner. I went home that afternoon and told my husband about the give away I entered and already planned a place for the message board if I win.

I was going to go out and buy a little chalk board for my kitchen, but now I put that off because....

I WON! I won the lovely fleur-de-lis ceramic message board.


I plan to use it in my kitchen. Not sure what I will be writing on it yet. The possibilities are endless. I can use it to display a doodle, dinner menu, love note to my sweet husband or daughter, holiday inspriations, or simply to welcome you into my kitchen.



Now, go check out http://botanicbleu.blogspot.com/. Its a French country home and garden blog that is sure to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside as she displays so many of her photos and decorations. This is just another reason I love her blog. I would love to visit France one day so in the meantime her blog is the closest Ill get.


Thank You Botanic Bleu!

DIY Cork Stamp

Here's a cute little idea for you stamp lovers. Make your own...I know, I know, there are some really great kits and supplies to make a more perfect stamp but why not be unique and imperfect and make one yourself by just using a wine cork.

I have actually be collecting corks for a project I plan to make one of these days. It will take a lot of corks, therefore meaning a lot of drinking, and well, for me, it will take forever to collect enough corks to make what's laying on my mind. But time will tell. I have asked friends to collect them for me in the meantime.

I sacrificed one the other night just to try this little project.

A CORK STAMP

 
All you need is a cork, pen, razor blade, and ink.
 
 
Draw your design

 
Now chip away. I ended up using a pairing knife. I'm sure I would have cut my
finger off with a razor blade so be very careful and don't let your children do this. As a matter of fact, don't let your teenager or spouse do it either. Only you. The creative one.
 
Grab and ink pad and begin stamping.
 
 
For this one, I actually only used my pen to color and stamp. I cheated.
I didnt even take the time to grab paper. I was so excited I just used a paper towel.
 
Now you have your very own, one of a kind, imperfect little stamp. Now get creative and make you one. Just be a little more creative than I was on this one. The possibilities are endless.
 
 
I've shared this at:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Song Sunday

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for Love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!

Now your burden’s lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain...so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby
Don’t be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk, sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain...then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can’t contain your joy inside...then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on glory’s side...and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!

~Chris Rice- "Come To Jesus"

Thogging (Updated)

Thogging- Made up word by me meaning thinking and blogging or blogging while thinking...
or maybe its already been made up by someone else. I don't know but it sounded good to me.

Have you ever had so much on your mind you feel overwhelmed? That's me. My mind is so full of ideas, worries and thoughts. Stuff is always swirling around in there!  Sometimes its painful.

  
I like to create. I have inspirations on things to create but cant seem to wrap my thoughts and skills around how to do it. Some things I want to make are small enough to fit in the palm of my hand to things big enough to change the look of my house. Its all in there waiting to come out. I'm not going to say I don't have the time or money to do these things because most things are ideas of re-creating and making use of old things. ohhh. The thought process is pounding! Pinterest is dangerous. Just saying.
 
I also have a lot of thoughts on what I want to do in life. I have been working at the same place for twenty years. I'm burnt out. I like what I do but I feel I'm at a dead end and this is it. I want to better myself but do not have the schooling to do so. I thought about getting a certificate in something or taking a small course in something new. What I REALLY want to do is be a Phlebotomist. Its a short class to learn an important skill that I would love to do. BUT, the class is held only once a year and its hard to get in to. Besides, I'm not sure I could even pass the college test or get through an interview. Just another reason I think I've been at one place to long. I have no clue what I would have to go through.

My mind worries. I hear nothing but bad news on TV and local newspaper. Everywhere I go, I'm surrounded by pessimistic people and I'm an Optimistic person. I always try to find the good in everything and everybody. I think bad luck happens to pessimistic people. I also believe if hateful people truly have God in there hearts, they would not be so pessimistic.
I also worry about the world. Its going to hell in a handbag. So many lost people are out there. So much hate. So much sin. So much sickness and no faith. So much immorality. I wish the world would wake up and straighten up. Just imagine how happy everyone in the world would be if we all baked cookies at the same time. Just a thought.
 
My brain wonders. I wonder why friends disappear. One day your hanging out with them and before you know it, they are not around any more. I guess they have a lot of other things to do too. Things I'm not into. I don't know.
I wonder why family is so distant. I have always been the one to do all the calling, texting or just showing up. They never make the effort. By the way, we all live in the same county. I stopped the effort just to see what happened and now I never hear from them unless its at a family get together, This hurts. They do not even read my blog or visit my online store or even follow me on Twitter or Facebook. They have no clue about me any more. I love them but they are never around. I just keep thinking, Thanksgiving will be here soon and well catch up I guess.

I Dream. There are so many things I want to do , places I want to go. Stuff I want to see. Even though we don't have a lot of money, I do not think anything is out of reach, but I'm the only one that thinks that way. I guess its kind of nice not to be able to do things or have things because it gives me something to dream about.

On this all being said, I will continue with new ideas, I will figure things out eventually. I will always be creative, I will be my own friend. I have a wonderful Husband and daughter that I get to see and spend every day with and this makes me happy. I will continue praying for others and just live one day at a time. 
 
I should remember this.......


UPDATE!!!!!
Two months after writing this post, I went to a local school here in my town and completed a Phlebotomy course. So excited and cant wait one day to use my certified skillzzzzzz.


Easy Brownie Cake

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day. We ended the day by grilling some steaks, a loaded salad and a glass of wine. Afterwards I wanted an easy dessert. I didn't want to crank up the oven because its been a hot day. I decided to make this brownie cake.


Can you believe, this only took five minutes to bake and I didn't have to use my oven?  I used my microwave. Yep, I nuked it. Now, I'm not going to lie to you and tell you its the best cake I've ever had, but I will say its good. Its not as good as a real cake or real brownies. I think I could have possibly added some chocolate chips or pudding to the mix to make it better.

But it is easy!!

Easy Brownie Cake
 
Boil 1/2 cup water with 3 tablespoons sugar added. (set aside)
 
In a bowl, mix together
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup self rising flour
2/3 cup cocoa
Then add
3 eggs
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
(will be a thick mix)
 
Pour the mix into a buttered 8x8 casserole or 9 inch pan (Tupperware works too).
Then carefully pour the boiling sugar water in the center of mix (do not stir).
Cover with lid or plastic wrap
Microwave high for 5 minutes.
 
Top with your favorite topping.


If you make this and figure out a way to make it better, Id love to hear your addition.

Original recipe with nutrition and calorie facts found  HERE.


Ive shared this at:
terrific-tuesday at adventuresofadiymom
two-girls-and-a-party lifewiththecrustcutoff
made-by-me-94-linky-party jaqsstudio
kitchen-fun-crafty-friday at kitchenfunwithmy3sons
saturday-share at wijnker