Invitations at last!

I have a dream that one day my daughter will tell her friends that she's so thankful that her mother put so much work into making her birthday perfect. 

Probably won't ever happen.  But hey, I can dream can't I?

You'll be happy to know that the Great Pooh Invite Search is finally over.  But it ended in a very time-consuming, sticky conclusion.  For those of you that want to make your own special Winnie the Pooh invites that are different than everything else out there on Pinterest and Etsy, this post is for you.

After I wrote about not being able to find anything I liked for Avery's party invites, I literally went to bed and dreamt about them that night.  As soon as I woke up and got to work, I grabbed a piece of computer paper and whipped up a quick idea of what I wanted it to look like:

A hunny pot!  Not just any plain old hunny pot, but one that, when the lid is lifted, it reveals the invitations!


Hooray!!  I'm so pleased with how these turned out.  If you like them, here's how I did it...

Originally, I was going to cut out all the shapes by hand.  Such a stupid idea.  I'm incredibly blessed with parents that love me a whooooole bunch and got me a Silhouette Cameo machine for Christmas.  And I gotta say...a Silhouette Cameo is God's gift to the crafting world.  It's fantastic.  If you have a project like this that's going to take a lot of cutting, find a friend that has a Silhouette machine and see if they'll let you use it.  SO much easier than cutting everything by hand!!  Obviously, if you don't have a Silhouette, hand cutting is also an option--it's what I did with Avery's 1st birthday invites.  Not impossible, just takes longer.  So!  Let's get to it.

I found a honey pot shape on in the Silhouette store and downloaded it.  I figured out what size I needed the honey pots to be to fit into my envelopes and resized them accordingly. 

I continued doing this with other shapes until I ended up with all the shapes I needed.  When all the cutting was done, I ended up with two drips of honey, a honey pot and lid, a square for the invitation, bee wings and a body, and the word "hunny."  To ensure that I could put the invite down into the honey pot, I made sure to cut a line going across the top of the honey pot.

I made sure to pick a glue stick that would dry clear because I would be applying a whole bunch of it.  First, I attached the honey drips near the cut I made towards the top.  Then, I glued the "Hunny" words in the middle of the honey pot.  I attached the invitation I printed towards the bottom of the yellow square and then glued the lid to the top of the yellow square.  Finally, I glued the wings and the bee's body to the top of the lid and attached the RSVP information to that.

I slid the square invite into the slit at the top of the honey pot and voila!

Normally, when I have a creative idea in my brain, the finished project doesn't turn out like I envisioned it.  But this one was EXACTLY how I imagined it.  Pumped.  Best part about these?  Every invitation I found on Etsy that I halfway liked was like $3 apiece.  These invites (not counting postage or envelopes) were only 30 cents apiece.  Hooray for being cheap!

Oh, Pooh.

This Winnie the Pooh party will be the death of me.  They'll write on my tombstone:  "The Pooh did her in."

I had a mini-crisis earlier over Avery's birthday outfit.  That's been solved.

Now I've moved on to the invitations.  I'm seeing a lot of this kind of stuff....

via etsy

via etsy

Just kind of basic.  Easy (I really wish I knew what my aversion was to easy things...it'd make my life much simpler).

I know you're making fun of me.  And that's okay.  I love party planning.  I want everything to scream Pooh (without being cheesy overboard style) and I want everything to show that I worked hard on this.  That I cared enough to sit down and work on these invitations and didn't take the easy route.  I mean, did you SEE the invitations for Avery's first birthday party??  SUPER time consuming.  But so worth it.  I'm still getting compliments over those invites. 

So then I found stuff like this. And I die.

via etsy

At $55 for 8 invitations, this is not even an option.

via etsy

Again.  $44 for 8 invites?  Not gonna happen. 

I could make these myself.  But I have a Silhouette machine, which, unfortunately, doesn't have licensed character shapes for purchase yet.  So I would be hand-drawing all of the pots and Poohs and everything.  Doable....but very, time consuming.  

Sigh.  I need someone to make creative invites...and sell them for really, really cheap.  Is that too much to ask?

Yard Sale Finds Are My Friends

Yard sale finds, castoffs, items hidden deep in my mom's basement storage room....these are my friends.  I never thought I'd be the type to say that I loved junk.  I enjoy looking at an item and finding a new use for it.

Like these old shutters my mom had in her basement.  They were black, nothing special about them at all...but I felt like they needed to be displayed somewhere and out of the bottom floor of my parent's home.  I took them to our house in Bardstown, where they hung out in our storage shed for awhile.  I was unsure of the perfect place to use them.  As a picture holder?  As a decorative accent on a wall in our home?  Nothing sounded just right.  Until around Christmas time, when I decided to take a shelf off the wall and it left a HUGE mark where the brackets had been.  Oops.  I searched frantically for a solution to hide the eyesore and finally came up with one of the shutters.  I displayed it on the wall and hung our stocking from it for a couple of months (oh, you don't take your Christmas decorations down until March either??).

Soon after, we moved and I haven't found the "perfect" place to put the shutters back up in the new house.  I've been trying to decorate very deliberately and with purpose and not just throw crap on the walls just to have decorations.  But one day, while I was watching TV, it hit me.

Duh.  These shutters make the perfect frame for our TV!  When Marty mounted the TV, it left quite a bit of open spaces on the sides that I always felt needed something.  I didn't want to hang pictures because I felt like that would distract from TV viewing, but I didn't like the idea of leaving it all blank though.  Marty complains that they make his TV look smaller, but I don't mind a bit.

I'll leave you with some other TV wall inspiration that just make me drool:

via thelaurenelizabeth

^ I literally have dreams about this wall I love it so much.  Maybe one day.

via

Love these colors.  And the frame around the TV.

via

I'm geeking out over this.  I want sliding barn doors!

Do you have any creative ideas to make a TV wall look prettier?  Share! 

I Love Hobby Lobby (and HL Sales...)

Nothing makes this girl happier than visiting a craft store (okay, maybe a few other things....).  So when I got the opportunity to go to Hobby Lobby this weekend, I was pumped.  I get a strange high from being around that many canvases, fabric spools and brilliant home decor ideas.  Just being there makes me happy.  So you can imagine how I feel when I'm in the craft store and I score a ridiculously awesome deal.  Meet my new clock.

Gahhhh!!!  It's gigantic (seriously--the picture doesn't do it justice...it's at least 20 inches across--if not more), it's covered in burlap and it's antique looking.  Could it be any more perfect?  Actually yes.  Yes, it could.

That sucker was originally $60 and I picked it up for $12 on clearance.  The clock works, but the hands stick and cause them to move when they're not supposed to, but that's just fine with me. Again, it's giant, it's covered in burlap and it's antique-y.   Even if it doesn't keep time, it's PERFECT for my house.  And I've been on the hunt for a statement piece for our living room.

Now, put on your imagination goggles with me for a second.  There's a super long wall spanning from my dining room into my living room that has two double doors along the wall going out to the screened in porch, but there's still a long wall that was devoid of any decorations whatsoever.  The previous homeowner (aka my aunt) had her TV on that wall with the furniture facing it.  When we moved in, I looked at that wall for our TV, but realized, because of the placement of the room, I wouldn't be able to center my couch with the TV if we did that...BIG problem for my OCD.  So we switched the room around and left this wall alone.  Here's where the imagination goggles need to be on.  (FYI, I apologize for this terrible picture.  I was trying to take it in between Avery's "I hold you!" whines).

You ready for my plans?  My mom has an old white wooden mantle in her basement that I'm going to steal  borrow with permission from her.  It needs a new top and probably a fresh coat of paint.  I'm going to tell ask Marty sweetly if he and his cousin (who is a whiz with wood and silly projects I hope to accomplish) will mount it centered on the wall.  I'm picturing two small printed chairs on each side and beautiful decorations on top.  Finally, I'm going to take a scrap piece of plywood, cover it in chalkboard paint and put it in the "fireplace."

via

Saw this idea in one of my mom's magazines last year around Christmas (Country Living? BHG?) and fell in love and have been obsessing over the idea ever since.

If I can get everything to work out (mom letting me have it, husband painting and mounting it...), I hope to have after pictures soon!!

Just a Simple Thank You.

Today, I had the chance to return to the Kentucky FFA State Convention as a contest judge. I always love going back to convention. I'm surrounded by national blue and corn gold corduroy jackets. I see wide-eyed youth, on fire for the FFA. I feel their nerves as they prepare to compete. I notice their excitement as they try to take in all that the convention has to offer. I know this because I was once a young FFA member experiencing my very own first state convention. First as a regular member, then as a team competitor, then as a prepared public speaker, next as a State Officer Candidate and finally, as a Kentucky FFA State Officer. To try to describe to you the impact the the National FFA Organization has had on my life would be impossible. There aren't enough words to properly express how much love I have for the FFA. Or what it did for me. Or how passionate I feel about youth getting involved in the FFA.

When I first came back to convention as a Past State Officer, I was overwhelmed with sadness. I was no longer allowed to sport my official dress down the hallways. I couldn't blend in with the members in my blue corduroy that became so familiar it almost felt like a second skin. Instead, I was in dress pants and a blouse...the official dress of a "has-been." I looked at the fresh faces of the new state officers and wanted to trade places with them. It was an emotion so strong, I physically hurt from missing the FFA.

After the next few trips back, it got easier to see the new batch of state officers. Instead of jealousy, I felt excitement for them. Glad they were getting to live out their moment and experience something few members get the chance to. Instead, I looked at my friends from the FFA...people that were members the same time I was...that were now the FFA advisors. The ones that got a front row seat every day to watch their students fall in love with agriculture. I began to feel a different kind of jealousy. One where I felt like my friends were getting to live out the ultimate dream job, while I just came to convention as an outsider--only to return back to whatever job that was waiting for me at home. I'd look at my friends and wonder if I'd made a terrible decision. I'd wonder if I, too, should be in their shoes and should have followed the path of an ag teacher.

Finally, I returned to convention again today. I waited for the pang of jealousy or the realization I hadn't made the right decisions to hit....but that feeling never came. Instead, I looked at my friends, leading their groups of students around, and just felt proud. I am so proud to know people that have truly found their calling in life. People that just KNEW they wanted to be ag teachers and are doing a fantastic job doing just that. When I look at my friends and hear them talk about their plans for their programs and their students, their excitement is contagious. I'm genuinely happy for them. They're living out their dream...it's just not one that was made for me. I know that I'll find my true calling one day (I hope, I hope...), but for now, I'm content coming back to convention in my current role: as a proud FFA Alum that's deeply, gratefully, humbly thankful for having the chance to learn so much from just a simple school organization. Thank you, Kentucky FFA.

Pooh Pooh.

Yooooouuuuu guyyyysss.... (I've got my whiny voice on....can you tell??)

I'm having the hardest time EVER finding a cute outfit for Avery's birthday party.  First, let me start by saying that I know she doesn't have to have a new outfit for every birthday.  But I like the idea of making it a tradition.  My sister and I always got a new dress on Easter and Christmas.  Why not let Avery get a new outfit for her birthdays that make her feel special and party-ready?  Also, when I come up with a party theme, I see it to fruition.  I want it to be Pooh everywhere, even down to the outfit.  Back to the mission....

I've decided that Avery's 2nd birthday will be Winnie the Pooh themed.  She's into everything from Mickey to Sofia the First to Lady and the Tramp to Tangled.  The girl loves a different movie every day of the week. So coming up with a theme for this year was fairly difficult.  Back in March, Avery went through a pretty epic Winnie the Pooh phase.  We watched the Pooh movie every single day on repeat, we read Pooh books, we talked about Pooh, we slept with a Pooh blanket.  That's when I started looking on Pinterest at Pooh themed parties.  And I FELL IN LOVE.   I won't share any details because I don't want to ruin it, but holy cow...I'm pumped about this party.  Slowly after that, though, Avery started watching a different movie every week and has kind of gone away from the Pooh obsession.  This momma says too bad though, because we're going to have a rockin' Pooh party.  Avery obsessed, or not.

I've decided on invitations, food, decorations and favors.....which leaves the birthday outfit.

Let me be the first to say that I LOVE all things Disney.  I live for the day that my husband says we're going back to Disney World and can quote Disney movies like it's my job.  I do not, however, love Disney themed children's clothes.  They're just kind of tacky in my opinion.  So, when I was searching for Pooh outfit and came up with options like these below, I felt a little discouraged.

If you loved these items, don't get your feathers ruffled...they're just not my style AT ALL.

And I'm kind of over the whole "birthday-number-applique-on-a-tshirt" phase.

Again, if your child is sporting one of these at their upcoming party, don't get your panties in a wad.  My kid wore one for her first birthday party:

It's just one of those "been there, done that" kind of things.  I want something new.  I want something different than I'm seeing on Pinterest and every Winnie the Pooh party themed blog I've come across.  It's like I have a vision in my mind, but I'm just not sure what it is.  I feel like when I see it, I'll just know.   But for now, I'm feeling super frustrated that I'm just going to end up sticking my kid in a Pooh t-shirt from Walmart.  Help?

Color Jumble.

I need advice on colors to paint the exterior of a house.

No, I'm not painting the vinyl siding on my house (yet...).

Instead, I'm painting this bad boy for Avery's birthday (inspired by: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/a-little-tikes-house-gets-a-pr-155572 ).

And I honestly have no idea where to start. My creative brain is yelling a hundred different ideas at me and I'm having trouble concentrating.

I DO know that I want to paint the house one color, the shutters another and the bay window on the front another. I'm thinking something like house--navy blue, shutters and roof--black, bay window--white. But I'm just not sure.

Let the opinions fly!!

One of Those Days.

Do you guys ever just have one of those days?  You know the kind....

...when your kid gets up at 3:45, 4:30 from apparent night terrors/bad dreams/growing pains/just being spoiled and knowing mommy will come running if she screams your name.

...when your kid keeps you up until 5:30 and you know your alarm is going off in 45 minutes....and it takes you every bit of 20+ minutes to fall back asleep.

....when you turn your alarm off and immediately fall back asleep....only to wake 45 minutes later in a total panic.

...when you're frantically throwing makeup on your face and your husband comes in and informs you that he's been throwing up.

....when you rush around in the morning, trying to get to the sitter and work on time, all while having that nagging feeling that you're forgetting something.

...when you drop your child off at the sitters and promptly inform them that your child has not had breakfast, has not peed in the potty yet, is still wearing a Pull-Up when she should have training pants on....finally, hand them a giant bag of wet baby-sized underwear that you'd planned to dry that morning for your toddler to wear today, but didn't because you fell back asleep when your alarm went off.

....when you get to work and you haven't been there 10 minutes when you give yourself a nasty paper cut that draws blood and requires a band-aid.

....when you are listening to your "Matchbox 20" Pandora station in an attempt to wake yourself from the sleep-deprived haze you're in and the phone rings...when you walk towards the phone, your headphones tangle and pull your phone off your desk and hurls it face down on the tile floor.

....when you get home and decide to attempt to shake off the crappy day and make a homemade dinner.  You decide to make cauliflower crust pizza, because you're gluten intolerant and you haven't had pizza in practically forever and you miss it, dang it!

.....when the recipe calls for "riced cauliflower" to be cooked in a microwave for 8 minutes.  You cook it, making your entire kitchen smell like fish and causes your husband to complain and open the kitchen window.

....when you continue making the pizza, thinking it looks promising when it comes out of the oven, even though it made your kitchen smell like rotten sea animals.

....when you bite into the pizza, which was extremely crispy on the edges, and discover that the bottom is almost raw and completely soggy.

...when you toss the entire thing into the garbage and pour yourself a large bowl of Fruity Pebbles.

...when your child climbs into your lap and demands multiple bites of your cereal because she can't just give you 3 minutes to enjoy a childhood sugary cereal without interruption.

...when you get on your laptop to blog about your crappy day and your laptop is completely screwed up and will not connect to the Internet, so you have to blog from your ipad, which gives you finger cramps.

Have you ever had one of these exact days?  I thought so.