Love Generously, Praise Loudly

Sorry

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted. 

You would think that by having one child leave my nest I would have more time on my hands. SO not true.  In fact, we are busier than ever. 

I will get a bit better at blogging, but in the meantime wanted to post some pics as to what I have been up to....

I have been painting up a storm.  I even painted an ornament for the DG Mother/Daughter party this Monday.  (NOT finished yet, as you can clearly tell by her bikini top)

Baking...

 
 Baked Pumpkin Bread for the school staff...
 

Even started needle felting....

 

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!!

Fall Photos, and some ideas for Room Mom's

Wanted to share with you some Fall photos...

Late afternoon Sunday, Dale and I high tailed it out of USC, and picked up our kidlets from the babysitter's so they could attend the Fall Festival that our association puts on.  Dale actually made it home a couple hours before I did, so I had to meet him there. 

Okay, this isn't Fall-ish, but I took this while walking to catch up with Dale.  Just love it here...

My little 50's Diner Girl...

My Transformer....Optumus Prime...or Optimus...something like that.  Kids had a blast, and got enough candy that I may not have to go out and get any for Saturday!  

Now on to tips...Here are some ideas for your class parties:

1. Eye ball Races- each child is given a ping pong ball, where they color it with markers to look like an eye.  I even encourage them to make squiggly lines in fun colors to make them look bloodshot and scary.  Once done, we get in equal lines, put the eye ball on a spoon, and have races.  The line who completes the race first, wins!

2.  Hot pumpkin- Same as Hot Tomato, but using mini pumpkins instead.  (Got mine 2 for a buck at Vons this week)  For the music I went on Itunes, and downloaded Monster Mash, Purple People Eater and Ghostbusters.  

3.  Halloween bingo- pretty self explanatory.  For prizes I went to Target and got the fake Dracula teeth, eye ball erasers, pencils, spiders, etc...

4.  For a treat, do what I do, and COPY an idea.  I went onto Bakerella and copied her mini cupcake-spider idea.  The only problem I had was finding those darn legs.  Got them in red instead of black.  Also, not every kid will be getting mini red M & M's.  Wasn't going to buy out the store of that candy just so they could have red eyes...so instead some will get two green, or two yellow, etc...

5.  For older kids it is a total blast to do Mummies.  Divide class into groups of five...one being the Mummy.  Hand each group two toilet paper rolls, and have them make a Mummy.  Have the parents and teacher who are helping the party vote on the best one.  This is a BLAST for kids who are old enough to stand still.  My little two boogers are a couple years away from this.  

ENjoy....off to Art class!
 
 
 

Weekend Photos

Here are some quick photos from our Parent's Weekend!!

 

 

 

   

Had a great time....so proud of Stephie!!!

All things happy...

I can't believe it has been so long since my last post.  Time is certainly flying over at our house! Doesn't everyone feel that way???  Three kids in sports is keeping me running five days a week.  Then, if you add in the games on Saturday...enough said, right?  However, my kids are so happy...so if they are happy, I am happy. 

Wanted to share some recent craft activity that I have been able to throw in here and there.

You know I am in a cake decorating class, right???  Have I mentioned that???  Here is last weeks cake.  (HOLD the comments on the clowns.  I really dislike clowns too, but it was the assignment!)

 

After I took this photo, I dumped the cake in the trash.  My kids don't really like cake, and there is no need for it to sit around, jump into my mouth and land onto my thighs.  Smart choice, if you ask me.  (Not to mention that the cat in the photo took a lick.  GROSS!)

As you may, or may not recall, I am in charge of Hospitality and Teacher Appreciation at our school.  Every month I am to leave a goodie or surprise in the teacher's boxes.  This is what they are getting today:

 Cake balls!!!  I tried to dip them in the orange first, as I wanted them to look like pumpkins.  I don't know what I did wrong, but it was not working out.  So, I changed my plans and decided to just dip them in chocolate and drizzle them with the orange.  Still cute...pumpkins would have been cuter.  Must practice this again for another time.  I am determined to get it right!

I always give my younger kids teachers a Fall gift.  (Usually a cinnamon smelling candle)  Yesterday I painted the bags that they will be going in...

 

 Hope you are having a GREAT week!  :)

 

BUSY!

Sorry I have not been blogging.  Hunky Hubby has been gone nine out of the last twelve days, so I have been doing crazy single momma duty. Thankfully, he is due home in a few hours.  I can HARDLY WAIT!!!

First let me say that Stephanie has been keeping me pretty busy, even though she no longer lives at home.  The dear child volunteered my services at her sorority house.  I am now in charge of the pledge class scrapbook!!!  There are 58 pledges, so I will be plenty busy.  Also, every time she is giving a boy goodies she asks me to make a bag.  This was the latest one:

Second,I finally decorated the inside of my house for Halloween.  Here is just a tid bit of one corner:

Third, Miss Maddi went to her first Homecoming dance.  She was soooo beautiful!!!!  She actually found her dress in Seattle at a Jessica McClintock store.  Once home I just went online and ordered it for her.  (Maddi is on the left)

 

Lastly, besides a painting class, I am now enrolled in a cake decorating class.  I SLAVED today on the icing, and just found out that I did it wrong.  I am already grumpy and angry that I messed up on my first assignment!  Big Fat BOOOO!

 

This gets to be dumped in the trash when I go downstairs.  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!  I hate wasting time!  

Will show you final piece tomorrow. Enjoy your night!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
 
 
 

Bated Breath

I know you all aren't waiting with bated breath for me to blog again....but, I will be posting tomorrow.  Promise.

And, yes it is bated, not baited.  I looked it up.  :)  Don't want peeps to think I am stupid. At least not on an even day.  

Letters ***Edited

I want to share with you a few emails between Dale, Stephanie and I.  But, before I do that I am going to give you some background on why they were sent out.

I have to drive to Manhattan Beach tomorrow for a meeting.  So, I told Stephanie I would drop by and take her to lunch...

Dale is working 9 out of the next 12 days.  Not a big deal....but remember that those 9 days are 24 hour shifts. 

Here is my first email:

 Okay you two....Going to these places tomorrow, so put in your order.

 

Costco

Target

Vons.

 

All orders will be approved after being reviewed for relevancy and need by Queen Shopper.  Put your requests in now.  All orders submitted after 8 am will have to wait until next week's trip.

 

xoxo

Queen Shopper

 

Dale responded with this email to both Stephanie and I:

 

I don’t think I will need anything from the listed vendors. Also make sure you run all POR (purchase order request) by the Lead Finance officer before any purchases are made. If ANY unapproved purchases occur, the Queen Shopper will deal with the possibility of having all shopping privileges suspended indefinitely.

XXOOXX ;)

LFO

 

Late last night Stephanie responded with this:

Dear Queen Shopper,
I don't believe I need anything from Costco, however I could use some lean cuisines (ravioli, smart ones three cheese ziti, broccoli alfredo), 100 calorie packs of milanos and chocolate covered pretzels, Luna Bars (I like the chai ones if you can find them, but the others are good too) or Trio Bars (this would actually probably be at Costco), Peanut Butter filled pretzels, and a fifty dollar check so I can feed the parking officials (just kidding).  Also, be sure to tell the LFO that I have his credit card numbers memorized, and hence will no longer be needing to use any purchase order requests (again, kidding).
Love,
Queen Spender

This just makes me giggle.  And smile. 

EDIT***SIDE NOTE

Stephanie got a parking ticket on campus, thus the reason she wants to feed/bribe the parking officials.  Okay, so maybe THAT part doesn't make me giggle.

Yay it's Friday!!

YAY for Friday!!!  I am not enjoying getting up early...it makes me not wanna craft, but sleep instead!!!

I have finally finished the coasters that I have been hankering to do...

Cute, No???  I went to a tile store and asked if they had any "extra" 4 by 4 tiles from a job....purchased a box of these suckers for $20.  I then grabbed the biggest "P" stamp I could find, and stamped them.  Once they dried I sealed them, and added felt to the bottom.  Now, MOST of my "P"s are a little on the imperfect side.  However, I am okay with it, considering they cost me about 12 cents each.  Wouldn't they be adorable for a house warming gift???

Onto food, shall we?

I am a little upset with my friend Pam...check here for her blog. She had to go and post a Fall recipe, from Picky-Palate. So, I go onto Picky's blog and find this lovely, sinful thing...

Mini cheesecakes.  Once I saw this recipe, and the new Hershey Kisses it needed, I was on the hunt. I found the kisses NO PROBLEM, but the mini cheesecake pan?  NO WHERE.  Of course, Picky was kind enough to link Amazon where they COULD be purchased, but I wanted to make them LAST NIGHT.  Forget that I am paying a million and a half dollars for boot camp to make me skinny for the Parent's Weekend at USC in a month.  I wanted these NOW.  So, being the impatient woman that I am, I made them in a mini muffin pan.  And, because the muffin pan held 24, not 12, I doubled the recipe.  See, at this point you are thinking I am a smart thinker, aren't you?  Well, think again my friends.  Those little suckers wouldn't come out of the pan.  Let me correct myself, they WOULD come out, but not pretty like Picky's.  Nevertheless, they were quite delicious, and Hunky Hubby praised my efforts. 

Needless to say, I ordered the correct pan today.  Drat it all!

Trying another recipe tonight...the Cinnamon Crunch Toast cookie one.  No special pan needed.  RIGGHHHHHTTTT up my alley. 

Enjoy your Friday...make it a good one!

Dear Fall

Dear Fall,

Thank you so much for giving me a glimpse of what is coming soon.  I have absolutely LOVED the last couple days and the cooler weather that you have provided us.  I have looked longingly at my sweaters...knowing soon I will get to wear them.  You do know, don't you, that I look MUCH better in sweaters than swimsuits, right?  Just wanted to make that clear, in case you felt like speeding up, and arriving earlier than you were anticipating.

Thank you, Fall, for helping me get in the mood...I started to decorate a bit in your honor.

I hung my Fall wreaths, and planted flowers on my porch:

Even stuffing moss into the pots...

Had Dale drill holes into my stucco to put up my flag, in honor of football.  (That is what I told Dale, but really in honor of Steph.

  

And even purchased some neat-o grape vine pumpkins at Target.

Now, come when ever you like...However, if you are feeling a BIT lazy, can you wait until after tomorrow?  You see, Hunky Hubby (HH) and I are going HERE for the day.  (I can hardly wait!!!)  And, not to complain, but this will be the first time in 18 years that I haven't had a child at home during the day, or a job to run off to.  Let me repeat that.  18 years. 

I know I seem a bit fickle to you...and I apologize.  I am DYING for you to arrive...

However, I would like tomorrow to be warm enough for a swimsuit!!!  :)

Thank you.

 

 

 

Action Packed Weekend

All I have to saw is PHEWWWW....we made it through an amazingly FUN, yet packed weekend.

Yesterday both Connor and Emily had soccer games.  Didn't get great photos because I didn't bring my good camera for action shots.  DRATS!  However, I want to tell the world that my little Emily was amazing.  During practice she chases butterflies so we really weren't anticipating much.  Boy, were we wrong!!!  She ran the entire time, and SMILING while doing it.  Then, toward the end she scored a goal.  She started screaming, and jumping up and down.  It was so dang cute!!!

Later that evening Maddi went to her first dance at the new high school.  She went with a great group of girls... We drove to her friend's house to get a group photo.

 

Maddi is second from the left

Then this morning Stephanie and two of her sorority sister's came to the house to make treats for their "deliveries" tomorrow.  The girls are using these to ask the boys to their formal this coming weekend. 

 

Yes, we made cake balls.  Sick of them and the boxes yet?  If so sorry...but I got my rhythm going with them right now.  I now FREEZE the suckers and take them out when I need them.  :) (FYI...if you want to freeze them too, do NOT freeze them with the candy coating on the outside.  Make sure to put wax paper in between the layers too)

Ready for the boxes?

 

Wanna closer look, do you?

 

I printed up her sorority name on plain white paper, doodled the anchor, colored it in with marker, than put Glossy Accents on top to make it puffy. 

After that we took the gang to a restaurant for lunch.

 

Dale, Connor and Emily were there too...just didn't get them in the shot!

Off to order more lil boxes...I am addicted!!!

xoxo