Forty and Faaaabbbulous!!

True story: The other day I was driving with Gonzo (that would be the littlest Goober) around town running errands. We stopped by a salon to both get our haircut, so whippin' through town in the car I felt... ♪♫fabbbbbbuuulllloooouuusss♫♪. Sitting at a red light, sipping my cold coffee from a cup I had to pour it into because my coffee mug was too large for the cup holder, I got a weird feeling. The kind you get when you know someone is watching you. I glaced over and saw this "cute" younger guy smiling. I smiled back. He smiled wider. Now, yes, I am married but I gotta say it felt PRETTY good to be 40 and still feel like I got "it". That is...until I looked at the cup I was drinking my cold coffee from...our daughter's My Little Pony pink cup. Ahh...well. Coffee was good.☺

Shark Attack!!

The eldest child who was turning 8 requested a shark party this year and here are the results:

The postcard invitations were made using Photoscape and free Masterplan font from http://www.fonts.com/ Shark picture was found on the Internet, attached with double stick tape and then clear contact paper was put on top to protect them through the mail.

Signs were taken from an internet search for “shark signs”. I printed them on regular paper, attached with double stick tape onto thick scrapbook paper and attached to dowel rods.

Birthday sign, cupcakes, saltwater taffy and shark kabob ideas taken from: http://celebrationsathomeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/shark-party-1.jpg
The cupcake wrappers were made from scrapbook paper in blue water and silver using the template from: http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2010/08/how-to-make-cupcake-wrappers.html

The “surfboards” were cut from scrap wood, decoupaged with shark images found on the Internet and painted with acrylic paint.

Watermelon shark instructions were taken from:http://www.watermelon.org/Carvings/Shark-30.aspx
Adding Barbie was my idea which the birthday boy found hilarious. *giggle*

Favors taken from: http://www.flickr.com I used blueberry, berry blue, cream soda and coconut Jelly Belly jellybeans to fill the inside. Shark squirt toys inside were from http://www.birthdayinabox.com Thank you stickers were made using my Dynex sticker maker. LOVE this little gizmo!! All candy was bought from a local candy warehouse called b.a. sweetie http://sweetiescandy.com/

We served hot dogs, individual chip bags and pickles in hot dog baskets to make everything portable for 8 year old boys. We also had individual soda pop bottles in Tangerine and Lime by Jarrittos. Again...transportable and less likely to tip over than cups.

The cake was chocolate with peanut butter frosting per the birthday boy’s request (tastes like a Reese Peanut Butter Cup) and the cupcakes were vanilla with blueberry buttercream frosting. Per my husband’s idea I used blueberry JELLO to flavor it and YES…it TOTALLY worked. In fact it tasted like blueberry saltwater taffy. YUM!!

If you have any questions on anything you see here feel free to ask and I will help you as much as I can. It was a great birthday. Lots of work…but lots of fun.

Homemade Chalkboard Paint

When I share craft ideas I try to get right to the point (hey...you’re busy, I’m busy…) So here we go:

*Added notes for any who may still have some have questions:

·    

•  Yes, you can use latex paint (think wall murals *squeeh*)

•        No, you do not have to prime items first.

• ·       Yes, this is for a small batch and so can be doubled…tripled…depending on your project size.

• ·       No, you do NOT have to sand after final coat. If you do, use 150grit sandpaper.

• ·       Yes, you can use magnetic paint UNDER this and it will still allow both to work properly.

• ·       No, there is NO color off limit (although light colors may not show chalk well).

Enjoy!! Have fun!! Create!!

Parents choose wisely

I am not one who thinks bumper stickers or decals are funny, but today I saw one that was so “unintentional” it made me laugh.

Companies make decals for kids involved in sports. They put a picture of the sport, sometimes an initial of the school and the child’s name who participates in the sport. Then loving parents put them on their vehicles. That’s all well and good. UNLESS the initial of the school is an “F” and the child’s name is “Destiny”. So today I got to read a decal that basically said: “F Destiny”. Priceless.

So parents, when choosing your child’s name…choose wisely. BTW…the picture of the basketball on the decal was a lovely touch.

Sidewalk Chalk Painting

Need an easy thing to do with the kids? Don’t want to go out to get “craft supplies”? Then this projects for you! Sidewalk chalk paint is an easy thing to make with supplies you probably already have on hand.

Sidewalk chalk recipe:

¼ cup cornstarch

¼ cup water

Food coloring

Old paint brushes

Directions: Mix first 3 ingredients. Use brushes.

See? Easy. How much food coloring depends on you. We only used 6 drops per color and for the orange and purple mixed according to directions on food coloring box.

The paint goes on watery but dries just like regular chalk. Provides at least an hour (more if you double the recipe) of fun. And perhaps your child(ren) will declare the day “THE BEST EVER!!” too. Enjoy!!

Wake Up! We Need to Talk!

Have you ever been awaken at 1:30AM by a gut punch to the stomach and the whisper of: "Wake up! We need to talk!"? Yeah, me neither. Until last night. When I felt the punch I cringed. When I heard the whisper...I wanted to hide. I knew that voice but this time I heard the urgency. It made the punch all the more real. God had called me.

I racked my brain to tried and figure out why. But He knew I knew. He waited. I didn't move. That  had been the problem. In a time I should have. I didn't. I pray for many people in the morning, throughout the day and at night, but I hadn't prayed for someone who had been in, and is in, desperate need right now.  He needed me to wake up, not just physically in this case.

I've spoken about being convicted when I have fallen short before. Gimme a break, I'm a sinner, I fall short of His Grace daily. For this person He wants me to move. Even as Christians we sometimes turn a blind eye when the Deceiver stands right before us. We listen when anger or spite manifest in others. We call it being sympathetic. We nod but say nothing when someone is gossiping, being spiteful or hateful and we call that: "letting them vent". Not that they "can't" but we need to move and suggest prayer. And if they don't want to do that, we do it on their behalf. Otherwise in our own way we aid the Deceiver to continue the deception and worming deeper into another's life.

When I heard what God wanted me to do for the person He laid on my heart, my first reaction was: "But I..." Then the thought trailed off. It wasn't about me. It was about what He has called all of us to do. Unmask the deception and reveal The Truth. I always ask God to let me know when He needs me to be called. Guess what? He did. He does.

 None of us may have the "right words" for people who God lays in our paths but we do have The Answer. We need to let others know what it is. Otherwise we only further Satan's Kingdom and we don't glorify God's. Prayer is a wonderful and powerful thing but sometimes we are called to do more and act  more, so God can BE more.

Giving Thanks Where Thanks is Due

Matthew 21:16 They asked Jesus, "Do you hear what these children are saying?" "Yes," Jesus replied. "Haven't you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, 'You have taught children and infants to give you praise.'"

Last Friday my husband picked our children up from school. Since my sister's office is on their way back through town, he and the children dropped by to see her. According to my sister, there was a gentleman there who is not the easiest or most pleasant person. Yet, for some reason he decided to strike up a conversation with our middle child. *sigh* He looked at her as she stood next to her Daddy and asked, "Where did you get those pretty eyes?" Without a missed beat she replied, "God." The man looked at my husband, who was smiling, and asked, "Don't you think maybe Daddy or Mommy had something to do with it?" Firm in her conviction, she shook her head and said, "No. God did." The gentleman was speechless but perhaps he left that office with more to think about.

Thank you Dear Heavenly Father for my eyes to see You, my heart to hear You and my lips to continue to encourage and teach our children to share Your blessings for their creation with others. Sometimes the littlest voice can be the one that is heard in the darkness so that another may find the Light.