Sequins & Sofas: 5 Things

Stuff is just stuff. But it's fun to share the stuff that is enjoyable in life with your pals...here are a few-

1. Mini Guacamole Cups- Sometimes a gal just needs her guacamole and doesn't have the energy to make it from scratch. This little cup is tasty and great for quenching the craving for squished avocados....right now!

2. Birks- I wasn't sure if Birkenstocks were quite my style but I liked the straps on these and was kind of sick of wearing flip flops every day. It's nice to have options. Once you break them in (which takes some patience), they are dynamite!

3. Yeowww! Catnip Kitty Toys- I know I posted about these awhile back but all I had to share at the time were some little sardine fishes. I have since discovered many more glorious shapes and sizes...and Mosie LOVES them all to pieces! Yeowww!

4. This pizza- I got it at Cub once cause it was on sale. It is yummy. 

5. LuLaRoe Leggings- The Internets are a buzz with lovers of LuLaRoe and all it's comfy clothing options. I am far from an addict but do quite enjoy their leggings. I have a few pairs and when I wear them, I always get asked 'Where did you get those?'. They ARE pretty great.

Crafty Corner: Very Hungry!

I saw this pic on some website awhile ago:

Pretty cute activity for the Tods to practice their sorting, counting and fine motor skills!

I had a container at school that I really wanted to use because it was metal. In theory, it would take longer for those kids to break it vs a cardboard tube of the same size...right? But, metal containers bring with them added challenges....do I attempt to cut right into the side? With what kind of tool? Will I most likely cut myself in the process? Is it worth the risk?

After consulting many wise teacher friends as to how this could be accomplished, I finally settled on a plan to cut from the base of the tube. Instead of a vertical caterpillar (like in the original picture), he would lay horizontally....giving me a solid surface to cut a mouth hole and save me from inevitable injury. I used the 'nail and hammer' method to puncture holes along a rectangle line I drew to weaken the area- then finished it off with a big exaxto to remove the unwanted metal piece. I pressed any rough edges down and covered the whole shabang with paper to make Mr. Caterpillar spring to life. And then stabilized the base with hot glued pompoms for legs so he wouldn't roll away:

Laminated food pieces for the hungry little guy to eat and group time for that afternoon was ready to roll:

And an added bonus to the metal tube was the storage space inside for all the pieces...secured by the removable metal lid on the back side:

The kids LOVED feeding him all the foods (which we counted together as he 'ate') and wanted to have a turn again and again. Thanks, Internets, for the inspiration!

Picture Party!

I was going thru piles of old photos with my parents a few weeks ago and came across a few familiar favorites as well as a bundle of gems I had never seen before. I call this montage "Ode to my Youth":

And one Mosie for good measure:

The Madness 🏀

Ok, so i know it's currently July and March Madness (as in- the basketball tournament) has been loonnngg gone. But I have amazing things to share.

For the past several years, I have been in a seriously competitive battle with my boss' kiddos to see who could put together the strongest bracket. What's on the line? Well, usually either a pan of brownies for them (if I lose) or a bowl of guacamole for me (if I win). 

All of these items are equally delightful, but this year I felt the push to raise the stakes. Trophies- traveling trophies. Yes! 

The plan:

Each one shall be cared for by its recipient for the year until the next year's tourney comes round...then we shall see where the chips fall and redistribute as the points dictate.

We will also each add our name/date to the trophy bestowed upon us every year and make them kind of Stanley Cup-ish. It will be a legacy to pass on for generations to come....ok, maybe not. But trophies just make competition more fun. I like to win stuff.

This inaugural trophy winning year, I somehow came out on top:

Wooooohoooo, 1st place trophy (purchased online for super cheap- complete with personalized golden plate). It should also be noted that, upon delivery, the black lines on the super cheap trophy were very poorly drawn on with a pen. I had to redraw them with a sharpie! Hahaha, I love everything about it:

2nd place went to NaeNae ShaBoomBoom. Her trophy was fashioned from one of my old gradeschool b-ball tourney wins...with a slight alteration:

And rounding out the battle in 3rd place went to JaGabbers. This one I made from scratch with a little trip to the craft store. I think it's my favorite and it speaks for itself:

It's fun to get trophies for stuff in life. They make you feel a little bit special and proud to be you for a moment in time. Be sure to honor your life efforts with a trophy every once and awhile- you deserve it!

The first 'March Madness Ultimate Championship' awards ceremony was the most magical and I can't wait for next year's tourney to come around. I'll be honest...I kinda hope I get the turkey.

Crafty Corner: Cute as a Button

I was visiting with a dear family friend several years back and, as we were having a chat, immediately noticed an interesting piece of decor on her coffee table. I liked it so much that I took a picture:

A vase of buttons. A VASE of BUTTONS! I filed it away in the back of my brain as a 'someday' project and then forgot all about it as the days passed by.

A year later, I was shopping with my Aunt in Duluth and came across a jar of old buttons for sale- $5:

'I feel like I need these...but why?' I said to myself. Then the image of the button project danced through my mind and I bought them on the spot. Arg, I totally gotta try to make that thing!

Fast forward another year and there sat the jar of buttons on a shelf...longing to be repurposed and loved. But the time had not yet come.

Fast forward 6 months more and I happened upon a tiny black vase on clearance at World Market and also a spool of wire in my junk box that I had forgotten about- the stars had finally aligned for a button vase creation. I could almost hear those sad little buttons cheering with excitement to be set free! 

The supplies:

I cut a bunch of 24 gauge wire in varying lengths:

Then selected some of the cutest buttons from the jar. Through the button holes:

And twisted tight with the help of my needle nose pliers:

After preparing 4 or 5 of these button stems, I assembled them into a wire tree...some freestyle action took place here. I just followed where the creative wind blew me and twisted the wires tightly around each other until I was satisfied with the outcome:

And then repeated the 'tree making process' 5 more times:

To finish up, I added some sand to the vase to give the wire ends a home to live and stay in place:

A few minutes of arranging and tweaking the wires and voilà- a Button Vase!!

Not as many buttons as the original inspiration, but I am liking the simple look of my own interpretation. And I promptly found it a loving home on the shelf...my old buttons have finally met their destiny:

The Great Outdoors: It's FINISHED!

Oh boy, guys. My little backyard has reached its full potential in the past few days and it is soooo cute. 

My pal Linz finished up with the mulch and added a few more plants this weekend and I contributed with some equally as delightful garden accessories. Accessorizing stuff is definitely more in my wheelhouse of abilities than planting stuff, so I was excited to contribute to the final outcome in that way:

Accessory #1 (every garden needs a gnome):

Accessories #2 (tree stump art) & #3 (many giant letters):

Raspberry beds. I still need to dig those stones (Accessory #4) into the ground...in time:

And there's this:

Oh joy...that's a cute little raspberry if I've ever seen one.

To top it off, my sweet neighbor lady (with the most magical gardens in the world) had some extra tomato plants that she grew from seed and asked if I wanted some. We found a spot by the fence and she came over and dug the holes herself, planted 4 varieties, added compost enriched soil and some little popsicle stick markers. She said I should just water them and see what comes. I can do that:

Accessory #5 - a fresh coat of spray paint on the old metal furniture and a new umbrella canopy really makes the patio pop!!:

I am tickled pink with the end result. Now just to keep everything alive...I feel 97% confident that I can do it! 100,000 thanks to Linz for pouring her heart and soul into the planning, purchasing, digging, weeding, planting and mulching. It's just perfect.