Hand Stamped Jewelry For Sale!

So it's Christmas time and I'm trying to learn a little extra cash. Here's an example of a necklace I made for a lady in my neighborhood. I've priced it at $15.00, but if you'd like to buy one personalized for you or as a gift for someone, I could quote you a price depending on a few different things, Ex: How many pendants/children you'd like, how many charms, etc. I also can do keychains for men and make it more manly with something like, "William loves his daddy!" . . . I've got a couple orders to do, so I'll update pictures as I make them. 

Email me if you'd like to place an order or quote you a price! 

ilovemybrotherdavid@yahoo.com

Acorn Treats!

Acorn Treats!

These yummy treats are soooo easy and so cute! I actually discovered them in a magazine I got as a door prize while substituting for bunco one night. The magazine was titled FamilyFun:Cooking with Kids and featured fun fall foods and easy-to-make snacks and treats.  How simple, though! All you have to do is get a can of chocolate frosting, mini vanilla wafers, chocolate kisses, and pretzel sticks. Use the frosting as a glue and snap the pretzels to the desired length you want. This is GREAT for kids, simple and easy. Enjoy! And happy fall ya'll! 

Pomegranate Deseeder Review

All I have to say is: COOLEST THING EVER! I love it! I was totally skeptical to buy this pomegranate deseeder, but I'm obsessed. I bought it at Harmons, which is a local grocery store, but I'm sure that you can find them other places. . . Check out my video to see how it works! 

Live Deliberately!

Today could be a horrible day for me. I couldn't sleep all night from a combination of my ribs killing me with each breath I took (apparently I might have a little bit of pleurisy.) and the fact that election night didn't go as nicely as I wish it had. . . But it's okay. Everything is going to be okay. I have a beautiful family who love me, a boyfriend who understands me, friends who are there for me, and a god who saves me. Yes, there might be hard times ahead. Regardless of who the president was, we knew there would be hard times ahead. But thats why we must make every day count. We must look at each day with enthusiasm and look for people who need us. Service always helps us more than the people we serve. So pass it on! Be happy! And remember the words of Thoreau taught to me by my 10th grade english teacher and now my good friend, "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately. . . and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived". 

After helping my family clean their house the other day, I got home to find this on my desk. My roommate, Marlene, bought me a rose for the heck of it. Yes, I was confused and asked her what for, and she said, "Does there have to be a reason?" . . . So Pass it on! 

Color Melting

 Just posting a picture of my color melt that my sister did to me a few months ago. Love that I have no regrowth! If you're in the Salt Lake area and looking for a hair dresser, call Sarah at the BeauTea Salon! (801) 870-7802

Photo Wall

My Homemade Photo Wall Art

A few months ago I started seeing photo walls on Pinterest and all over cute houses. So I thought I'd make my own when I saw this door at Ikea in the "As Is" section. Six freakin bucks! That's all. The wood was lifting a little, but I knew that I could just use the other side. I also liked that it was foggy and actually put lights behind it, so that I could illuminate the frame. 

I knew that I wanted my frames to be a certain style and shape. I found some online, but they were all pretty expensive. Then I remembered the store that I grew up going to with my mom called the Wood Connection in Murray, UT. My plan was to have them cut the wood for me into the shape that I wanted. But they had the shapes I wanted already cut with glass and all! They even had the decorative paper I wanted. 

I painted some frames solid, but on the ones that I wanted to glue the paper, I painted the edges of the frames to finish it off nicely. 

It's important to arrange the frames how you want before you stick them up. I think I changed my mind at least fifteen times. Once I found where I wanted them, I attached them with industrial strength Velcro. That way, all that I have to do when I want to change the pictures is pull them off. Easy Shmeazy.

 Once I had everything Velcroed up, I used the fish hook looking photo hooks that hold a lot of weight so that I wouldn't have to find studs. Worked like a charm. I also added Martha Stewart garland to the bottom to hide the cord that is available to plug in the lights behind my couch. 

School Spirit Week

 When I was a kid, my mom always tried to think outside of the box. And she was good at it! I always had the coolest Halloween costumes, Valentines Day boxes, etc. I remember my working gum ball costume, my realistic pizza pie Valentine box, my bird nest and ocean head wacky hair day, my teacher making me take out the boobs in my back on backwards day, and much much more. I had an awesome childhood and an awesome mom. I can't wait till I get to do the same for my kids. As for now, I get to live through Sarah and her kids. 

Sela's Latest Wacky Hair Day: Fire!

Sarah had this awesome idea! She started with a styrofoam ring base, added lightweight wood, rocks, and tissue paper, styled her hair like fire, and sprayed it. It even had flashing lights with a battery pack accessible to Sela to turn on and off!

More From This Year's Spirit Week. . . 

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80's Day

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Marky's Career Day. . . Sarah let him pick what he wanted to be. . . 

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More Wacky Hair Days (From Previous Years)

(William felt left out)

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Sela's Greek Gods Day (Medusa)

Sarah painted the eyes on her eyelids and incorporated toy snakes. The scales effect was created by fishnet tights pulled over Sela's face and makeup/spray applied on top, then removing the tights.

It can be a lot of work, but it's always worth it in the end! (:

"Will You Go To The Dance With Me?" Idea!

So, in Utah (I'm clueless why other states would do this too) it is customary to ask someone to the school dance in a clever way. My mom and dad had four girls, so we're always racking our brains, trying to think of clever ways to ask to dances. My little sister goes to Bingham High School and she did one the other day that my older brother has done in the past. 

There's a chinese restaurant in West Jordan, I believe it's called The Red Lantern right now, on 9000th So. between 1300 W. and Redwood Rd. that sells giant fortune cookies. Call before if you're going to do this, because I'm not sure if they always have them. If you're not close to West Jordan, you might be able to see if your local chinese restaurant would make them. 

"I Would Be Fortunate if you would go to Bingham Ball with me!"

My sister Hannah had her friend Dezi (who happened to have a killer awesome costume, maybe because she's 1/4 Japanese) take it to him during basketball practice. Nice touch, huh. 

Hannah also put small fortune cookies with the big fortune cookie that had her name in it. She helped Dezi with her makeup and when they went over to basketball practice, a few cheerleaders happened to also be there to encourage Dezi that she could do it. And she ROCKED!!!

One of several Attempts. . . .

Success!!!!!

Here's a shout-out to 

thank Dezi for helping us!!!

Halloween 2012!!!

Favorite Part About Sela's Costume:

Just look at her!!!!! It's a little ridiculous how hot she is and she is only twelve. She's twelve! She towers over me too!

 

Favorite Part About William's Costume:

I'm not sure when the last time I kissed a bearded three year old was, but I'm pretty sure I loved it! The best was that he ended up ripping off most of it and we couldn't find it, so eventually he looked like Richard from lost. Eyeliner and all. Ha Ha! 

Favorite Part About Marky's Costume:

The best part about Marky being the phantom is his passion behind it. He LOVES the Phantom of the Opera right now. I mean, OBSESSED! I hope he can always say he does. I found all of this costume at the thrift store. Pretty awesome that his ascot is actually a baby dress pined to his neck!

More parts about Loving Life in October. . . .

 How lucky am I that I have these kids! Even though I might be a mean, grouchy aunt,  I still get to sometimes have a little fun with them! Every time I'd be driving with William and we'd see a pumpkin patch, he would squeal with excitement! And all the candy we got Halloween night, all the times I had to stop William from blowing out pumpkin candles, or pulling him away from walking in people's houses, or picking him up when his legs couldn't cary him further but he was still determined to keep trick-or-treating, all the times I had to listen to Marky sing "DOWN ONCE MORE TO THE DUNGEON OF MY BLACK DISPAIR", all the times I had to listen to Sela say, "I'm taller than you", all of those times were worth it. Because I just love them so much. And I love how every part of their life, every quirk, every booger nose or sibling fight, every part is a part of my life too. And I'm loving life! I love you Sela, Marky, and William!!!!

How to Harvest Pumpkin Seeds

How to Harvest Pumpkin Seeds! The Easy Way!

First:

 When you cut the top of your pumpkin, try to cut it large enough that you can easy scrape out the insides, yet small enough that there is a surface large enough to carve a face on the pumpkin to make a jack-o-lantern, if that is what you so desire.  I like to cut it round with a little quirk in it so that you can easily find it back into it's puzzle. This is especially nice if you have a pumpkin with no stem.

Next:

Scrape the "guts" out of the pumpkin and place in a large bowl. Fill the bowl with warm/hot water. The temperature might help the seeds float, but mostly it is for your comfort. I started out with warm water, but I liked using hotter water after I realized how quickly it cooled down. The seeds float to the top, making them easier to separate from the guts. Then wash the seeds in a strainer. Don't worry if you can't get every single seed clean. Some people actually like the bits of pumpkin in it after it's cooked. 

Enjoy! See previous post for my delicious family recipe of baked pumpkin seeds!
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Here's my carving work for this year!!!

Election Day Coming Soon!

Shout out to my man Jackson!