My Current Addictions

Ashley at Domestic Fashionista was one of my very first blogging buddies. She welcomed me with open arms, as so many others did, into the wonderful world of blogging! I am so glad I have gotten to know her and become her friend. She was kind enough to grace me with this wonderfully fabulous award. Thanks Ashley...you're a sweet-pea! I am supposed to list 5 things I'm addicted to and then pass this award onto 5 people who I'm addicted to and follow.

EASY PEASY.

1. My most favorite addiction would have to be my family! I LOVE being a mommy and the blessings and privileges that come with it. I wouldn't trade my days of wiping bottoms and noses and kissing bobos for anything in this world! They are my world. And even when my dear sweet hubby decides he wants to look like a terrorist for 3 months...I still love the socks off that man! We lovingly referred to him as "Osama Bin David" during that unfortunate phase. Unconditional love people...UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

2. SHOES!!! New shoes. I treated myself to a funky fresh pair of new shoes today. My favorite shoe store was having a half off sale and I couldn't stay away. As hard as it is to believe I haven't bought a new pair since the summer. I've been soooo good for sooo long. I needed a treat. I know some of you may be thinking, why would that crazy girl buy sandals in the middle of winter? Let me explain. I live in south Mississippi. It has been 75 degrees the past week. I wear my flip flops 12 months out of the year people. We have crazy weather. One day it might be 80 and the next day it's 40. Yes, I know... sad, but true.

3. Sonic Happy Hour. For those of you deprived souls who don't have Sonic...I'm truly sorry. Everyday from 2-4 pm all of their drinks and slushes are half price.

Large diet Dr. Pepper (with the really good crushed ice) = 87 cents.

It's my happy place!

4. I love me some animal print. I especially love to mix it with really traditional stuff to funk it up a bit. This applies to fashion and home decor. Right now I'm thinking these shoes would look lovely paired with a sweater set and pencil skirt! You like how I've managed to put them in almost every picture in this post? Me likey!

5. And last, but certainly not least...I am totally and irrevocably addicted to blogging. Admitting you have a problem is the first step, right? I actually have a confession. I used to make fun of bloggers...relentlessly. Oh how sheltered I was. I had no idea what I was missing. I have never been so inspired by so many talented women. I had no idea the bonds of friendship that would form between virtual strangers. I feel honored to have come to know such kind hearted loving strangers. And I am truly blessed to have ya'll as friends!

Now I want to pass this award onto 5 bloggers that I am addicted to and follow on a daily basis.

1.Megan @ LittleBellaBean. This girl is unbelievably talented with a needle and thread. Go check out her cute blog and especially her etsy shop...yummy baby goods!

2.Valarie @ Valarie Lea From Tennessee, Now in Alabama. I can always count on her to make me laugh. She takes the everyday stuff and turns it into greatness! Her writing is hilarious.

3.Jen @ Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. She inspires me to be a better person, a better Mom, a more Christ-like woman. And to top it all off...she's funny too!

4.Vintage Chic Chick @ Vintage Chic Home. I love her style. And she always has a fun project going on.

5. Tanya @ Sunday Baker. I am totally addicted to her yummy recipes. I am amazed that she just comes up with this stuff off the top of her head. In addition to sharing some scrumptious ideas, she has an unbelievably touching story of love and loss. She is a wonderfully loving wife and mother who inspires me in so many ways.

Please go and visit these amazing women. I promise you'll be glad you did!

Quick Before & After Project

I bought this at Hobby Lobby a while back. It was 1.99 (90% off). I'm not really sure what it's intended purpose was, but I knew I could do something with it. I bought an unfinished wood letter for 1.99, painted it black, sanded the edges, then used wood glue to adhere it. I don't have any wood clamps, so I used a big stack of books to weigh it down while it dried overnight. Yeah, I'm classy like that. Btw, I told my husband that I want some pink tools for my birthday next month. He laughed. Apparently, he thought I was kidding. Nope...totally serious! I must be getting old and boring because I'm also wishing for a Shark steam mop. I know...sad.

So, what do ya'll think? I love how it turned out. Now all I need to do is get some more white plates to surround it and the wall will be complete. For a grand total of $3.98, I think it's fabulous...cheap, yet chic!

You saved $90!!!

Ok...I know, I know...I said I wouldn't post about Christmas anymore, but I just couldn't help myself here. There must be a few of you out there that can relate. I happened to stumble upon Target's 90% off sale. I needed NOTHING. But seriously, how do you pass this stuff up when it is pennies on the dollar? I could not, and I did not! I spent $10 and saved $90. Whoo-hoo!

jingle bell wreath ornament .29

grapevine ball .59

snowglobe 1.29

silver pedestal 1.49

garland .59 (x3)

berry garland .89

Merry Christmas plaque 1.49

gold "peace" frame 1.49

scotch tape .19

These two babies are for future before and after projects. Look for them soon, I have grand plans!

Obsessed Much?

Hi. My name is Amanda and I am a handbagoholic...and a shoeaholic. Ever since I was a little girl I have LOVED bags and shoes. I can remember being 7 or 8 years old, and the very first thing I wanted to do when I got birthday money was to go to Payless. Ooohhhh, I love me some Payless Shoe Source!

I mean, really, who doesn't love a handbag? Well, actually I know many people who could care less...but we won't talk bad about them here. I love fun bags, luxe bags, monogrammed bags, backpacks, suede, leather, plastic...and the list goes on and on.

I have too many bags.


hElLo LOvER!!!
Yes, I have lots of bags, but this is my one true love. I have never loved another bag like I love this beauty. I have faithfully carried her for over 2 years now. I never stray. Back in the day I would change my bag on a daily basis...until SHE came into my life. My sisters call her my bowling bag. They like to tease, but I think they're just jealous because they don't have a big, giant ,beautiful, the most lovely shade of aqua, glorious in all her beauty handbag. I know I would be. She is really on her last leg and should be replaced, but I can't bring myself to even look at another. None of them compare. I will keep her and be very gentle.



p.s.
She makes a fabulous diaper bag too...multi-talented. Guess what? I DESPISE diaper bags. I have never and will never own one. I don't know what I have against them really...they're just not me. I have managed to get along just fine without one through 4 babies. It is a plus that I prefer very large bags...they work well. BTW, did you know that the bigger the bag you carry ...the smaller your butt looks? It's true, Carson Kressley from How To Look Good Naked says so. And I like to think he's right!


This is just a sampling of my shoe fetish...ummmm, I mean collection.



But, just like the bags, I have my favorites. Most of the time I wear those Yellow Box flip flops right in the middle. They are ultra comfy and the ribbon straps are just too cute. You know I love me some ribbon!

So, now you know a couple more of my quirks. I'm quirky. Some call it weird or obsessive. I prefer to call it quirky.

***EDITED TO ADD***

A very heartfelt thank you goes out to the gorgeous AndreaLeigh from My Chihuahua Bites. She gifted me this "You are Truly Beautiful" award. Isn't she just too sweet? I think she deserves this award way more than little ol' me. Thanks my friend!

I (puffy) HEART After Christmas Sales!!!

I. LOVE. THIS. ELF! If I weren't already married...I'd marry this elf. Is he not the cutest thing ever? My very favorite gift shop that I NEVER actually purchase anything at had a bang up sale the day after Christmas. I was so excited I almost peed my pants. Seriously, I know there's something wrong with me, but it's true. I was giddy. I could hardly keep it under control. Every single thing that I had been drooling over all season was still there and it was half off! And luckily, my dear hubby knows me like the back of his hand. He gave me a wad of cold hard cash to spend for this very purpose (that's what I wanted for Christmas). Am I the only freakazoid who wigs out over Christmas stuff, even when Christmas is already done?

What do you think...elf on the hearth or elf on the mantel?

(tall cone trees = $3 @ Walmart...yippee skippee)

I visited these candle holders several times, but couldn't bring myself to buy them. I am so glad I waited. See how they match the metal presents on my mantel? And no, they are NOT orange, they're bright sparkly glittery red.

(NOTE TO SELF : Maybe you should have spent that wad of cash on a much needed new camera.)

I just about died when I spotted these huge glittery paper mache ornaments. I HAD to have them.


These little santa boots are just too cute. For 50 cents, I couldn't pass them up.

Yes, more ribbon for my ribbon obsession.

SCORE!

The other side says, NAUGHTY. But, I'm stickin' with NICE.

$1.25

And last, but certainly not least...my much needed new tree skirt. I love the simplicity of it. PRECIOUS.

You like how I used the air hockey table as a backdrop? Btw, we scored that treasure at a thrift store for 25 bucks. It's like new, it's electronic, it works...the kids love it! My 3 year old asks to play air honkey all day long! Oh my, how that child makes me laugh. Life would be so boring without her!

Guess what? I'm not planning on taking my Christmas decor down any time soon. I need a couple more weeks of it. I do this every year. I think I may have a problem. I'm addicted to Christmas. HELP. I do have a good excuse this year though. I'm hosting Book Club here on the 8th and I think it will be much more fun with a festively decorated home. Yeah, I know I'm reaching on that one, but I need an excuse to cover my crazy. So, bear with me. It's gonna look like Christmas vomited all over my house for a teensy bit longer. I'll try not to post anymore pictures of it. I'll try.

Tassels RAWK!

I am officially now obsessed with making tassels. These are my very first ones, and I LOVE them. It was hard to give them away as Christmas gifts. I made it easier on myself by giving them to my favorite person in the whole wide world...my Mom! I never know what to get her. What do you get the woman who has everything and pays pennies for her fabulousness??? Well, I'll tell ya...a tassel...the prettiest little thing you'll never need! She oohed and ahhed over it, and I felt like I had succeeded in the gift-giving department! All's well that ends well.

After I made the purse tassel, I started thinking about other things I could use as toppers. Hmmmmm...let me think. Oh, what about all those pears I bought on super deep discount at Target and never could find a use for? PERFECT.

I am chomping at the bit to find time to make some more of these little beauties. Remember all those vintagey figurines I got at Dollar Tree a while back (phone, sewing machine, typewriter)? Guess what they are getting turned into?
Yep, you guessed it...tassels.



TaSsElS RaWk!!!

(EDIT)

Hi girls! I just wanted to let everyone know that there is an AWESOME tutorial out there already. I don't think I could do one that would compare...I'm still learning. But, thanks so much for having such confidence in me... ya'll are too sweet! I LOVE my bloggy friends. Seriously, reading all your sweet comments makes my day! Sooooo, if you are really itching to make some of these tassels, here's the scoop. Heather at BeTasseled gives a couple different toots that are very descriptive and extremely easy to follow. Let me know if you give it a try.

Good luck!

I HEART YA'LL ~ Amanda

A Redneck Christmas

One of my all time favorite traditions is taking the kids to see the "redneck" Christmas lights. Don't get me wrong...I mean no offense. I LOVE the redneck Christmas lights. Seriously, it is one of the highlights of the season for me! These pictures do it no justice. It is absolutely amazing. They probably have several acres all decked out. It is not something you just drive by, you MUST get out and walk it. There is a fenced and lighted trail all the way through it, with different hand painted wooden scenes all along the way. I cannot imagine all the time, effort, and love that is put into this display every year. This family has been putting on this magnificent show for the last 18 years. I'm sure it started out small and grew from year to year. There is no charge. They do it out of the kindness of their hearts, because they love doing it. I love that! They are the nicest little old couple you've ever met.

Hands down, this is my FAVORITE part of the whole set up. There is a hand painted ornament with every family member's name and birthday hanging from this tree. I LOVE that!

My little girl was in heaven! She is a little obsessed with Christmas this year. She knows all the carols and corrects us when we sing them wrong. She also likes to make up her own Christmas carols. She cried when we got ready to leave.

It's the little details like this that make the whole thing so special! Are those elves not PRECIOUS?

Only in the south would you see Santa driving a John Deere tractor and pulling a trailer full of toys!

Unfortunately, pictures cannot capture the beauty of these lights. They are a sight to behold... amazing.My oldest couldn't resist jumping in the shot at the last minute.

What's up with the "gangsta" peace sign???

Can you tell I have a couple of pranksters living with me? I don't remember the last picture we took where someone wasn't goofing off. Hey, that's us...that's how we roll!

From our family to yours ~

MeRrY ChRiStMaS Ya'LL!

Teacher Gifts and a Mini Tutorial

My goal to save money and have a "handmade" Christmas, has turned out to be a HUGE pain in my butt! Don't get me wrong, I really don't regret doing it this way...but let me tell ya, it's stressful! Making your gifts is A LOT of work. It is definitely NOT the easy way out. But to be honest, I loved every minute of it. It is so fulfilling to take an ordinary hum drum item and make it beautiful and unique. I think I am finally getting the hang of these clipboards...more or less.


Sorry the pictures are a little out of sequence. I'm tired and don't think I can hold my eyes open for any longer than necessary, so this is what you get! These peppermint sticks dipped in white chocolate are sooooooo yummy with hot chocolate and super easy to make

CLIPBOARD TUTORIAL

I remembered half way in to making these that I promised a tutorial, so we are seriously lacking in documentation of the steps...sorry. Basically, I start from the bottom and make my way up. I prefer to use 2 coordinating papers so that my paper piecing at the top around the clip doesn't look hokey. I cut the first 3 pieces and get them adhered. I have found that spray adhesive works the best, especially to prevent bubbling after you mod podge. Also, another helpful tip I've found is to spray your paper and the board for maximum adhesion. (is that a word?)

So now you have worked your way up to the clip with your first three pieces. Now the fun begins!

This is not a precise art. I cut a strip of paper to fit in that space, cut it in half, then trace around the clip onto the paper and cut out the pattern. It is rigged and pieced together, but I don't know that there is any other way to do it. and really, once you get it all fancied up with a big fluffy bow, no one will be able to tell. Now repeat the same process on the back side. I use the same pattern on the back so that it looks uniform. The only difference is that you don't have to worry about that pesky clip...no paper piecing. Now take your fingernail and run it along all the edges with as much pressure as you can stand...you don't want those edges pulling up, secure it good. Now you are ready to seal it with mod podge. I put on the first coat and let it dry, then apply a second coat for good measure. Once that is dry, take a credit card and smooth out any bubbles.

I use about 1 yard of gorgeous ribbon and tie a big ol' bow around the clip. You could also hot glue it on there too...whatever floats your boat. And.....TADA.....you have a beautiful one of a kind, custom clipboard sure to tickle the fancy of any teacher!

Ooooh, oooohh...I forgot one thing. Before you mod podge, you must take care of the corners. If you will notice they are rounded corner and your paper is square. I have a very easy solution for ridding the corners of that teeny bit of excess paper. Take a piece of sandpaper and just sand those edges right off. It works like a charm. It literally cuts it right off...perfectly every time! The bonus is that you get that lovely distressed edge...so cute!

Let me know if you have any questions. I am sure that I left out something important. Like I said...very tired. This explains the spelling errors too. Please forgive and love me anyway.

Holiday Party-palooza!

Welcome to my home! Come in and sit for a spell. Isn't it fun to peek into someone else's home for design inspiration while wearing your jammies and eating snacks? I LOVE this!

First off, my front door is NOT purple, it's red. Sometimes I really hate cameras. The pictures never do this stuff justice. I was at a loss as to what to do with my wreath this year. I wanted to do something different and unexpected and fun. As I'm sure you will notice I am having a love affair with this mesh netting stuff. It is AWESOME...I love it and want to marry it (sorry babe). I think the wreath is still missing that extra somethin' special, and I'm sure it will come to me soon what that somethin' is! But until then, this is what you get.

These are just a few of the fabulous parties going on right now. I wish I could survive without sleep. There just isn't enough time in the day for all the blog hopping I would like to do. I was able to narrow it down to a manageable 4, sadly. Go check these parties out if you haven't already. I promise you won't want to stop!

Sarah @ Thrifty Decor Chick

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality

Before the tour starts why don't you grab a few oatmeal cookies. Mmmmmm...I think I need one too. I need to refuel so that I can go to all these swank parties!

Oh mantel...how I love thee so! I have never done whimsical Christmas decorating before this year. It was sooooo much fun and my kids love it! I don't know if I'll ever go back to traditional. Oh, who am I kidding. Of course I will. I change my mind every 6 seconds.

Oh look, more mesh. I just can't get enough! Did I mention that 80% of the stuff on my mantel is from Dollar Tree? Yes ma'am it is! LOVE me some Dollar Tree!!!

Would you look at that! More of that mesh crap on top of my armoire. Are you getting sick of me yet? Oh...p.s. that polka dot ribbon is from Wal-Mart (75 ft. for $6.50). And I am two timing the mesh because I am also having a love affair with this ribbon. Isn't it the cutest? I admired some almost identical at a friend's house recently. She is a wholesale florist and got hers from one of the shops she sells to (very high end, fru-fru). She got hers at a discount for $50. What's that? You just fell off your chair? Tell me about it...CRAZY! The day after she bought her hoody doody ribbon she found this ribbon at Wally World. I know she was sick about it. Live and learn. I'm glad I got to learn from her mistake!

More mesh and more dollar store goodies!

Mis-treated candles and dollar store glitter balls (giggle, giggle)

This year I took a different approach to decorating the tree. In the past I have been so uptight about what ornaments go where. I was a HORRIBLE mother and let (made) the kids decorate the side and back with their "special ornaments". They never had a clue that this was a bad thing. Recently I had an epiphany. One day in the not so distant future my babies will not be babies anymore. They won't live in this house forever. They will grow up and have families and lives of their very own. When that time comes, I will miss them terribly. And when it's time to decorate the tree, I feel sure I will want those "special ornaments" front and center. The popsicle stick reindeer, the lightbulb santa, the thumbprint reindeer, the upside down handprint santa, the clothespin reindeer, and all the rest. Those are the ones I will treasure for years to come. Those are the ones that will tug at my heart strings, and bring a tear to my eye. So this year I encouraged them to put their ornaments wherever they wanted. And I am so glad I did. I LOVE my tree. It is reflective of us and who we are. It makes me happy. It reminds me of how unbelievably blessed we truly are. I am so grateful for the privilege of being a mother. I am a blessed woman!