BEFORE AND AFTER

I have hated our tv set up since we bought the new flat screen (that wouldn't fit into my cabinet) and we had tossed around several ideas. I wanted to have cabinets built in all along this wall, but it was out of our budget and since we hope to sell it wasn't our best option. Any hoo, Scott called me from Walmart on Thursday to tell me about this tv stand he found on sale. While we were talking (I was at another Walmart) I went to the furniture isle so he could tell me exactly what he was seeing. While there I saw that the shelves were marked down too. Long story short he bought the tv stand and 2 shelves.

Here is the befores and afters!

BEFORE

Before

AFTER

AFTER

He took us out this afternoon to look for baskets to put the WII stuff in. I found cute baskets but he found these red boxes on clearence for $3.50 each. I couldn't argue.

I finally have a place to put my 12x12 scrapbooks, on the bottom left shelf. It is going to take me awhile to decorate the shelves but I am going to wait until I find things I absolutely love. I also have to adjust my clock to center it above the tv.

For less than $200 I have a better set up and lots more storage. I am happy with it.

Coco and I took a photography walk today and got lots of cool photos of the snow, I will post later. She is so excited because school is cancelled again for tomorrow. I have to go to work and the roads are clear once I get to the main roads.

Everyone be safe

Blessings,
Pam

FOR YOUR ACHY BONES

Snow day means craft day!

I am making rice bags for heating or freezing to put on your achy spots. I needed one of these for a migrane this morning. I made the bag with linen colored cotton fabric. Filled with plain white rice that I enfused with peppermint oil. I put the rice in a bowl and put several drops of peppermint essential oil. I let that sit for a couple of days.

Then I made pillowcases to put the rice bag in. If it gets dirty you can wash the case. These are smaller for use on a small owie, headache or you can freeze, put over your tired eyes!

I am also going to make some larger ones for big owies! Waiting on my rice to infuse! I am going to make some up for little gifts or to take to someone that is sick.

I am stuck waiting for more rice to infuse. Note to self infuse rice in large quanities!

Now Coco has taken over my sewing machine practicing.

I will have to find something else to work on!

Soap making????

We'll let you know!

LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW

UPDATE: We have 5.5 inches at our house.

The view from our house.

Snow collecting on the railings

Snow coming down

Cars covered in snow

My cute little boots! Not very warm but cute nonetheless!!

Blessings

Pam

BEFORE THE STORM

If you live in Oklahoma or Northwest Arkansas you to have probably been preparing for the ice/snow storm that is supposed to hit tomorrow. I am all for a snow day but ice I do not want.

We have prepared for the worst! At least I think we have.

We have our kerosene lamp and candles ready!

Lots of batteries.

Plenty of easy to prepare food.

Cell phones charging

Camera battery charging

Gift for Coco in case the power does go out, she will have something new to play with.

Soap making supplies if we get to stay home.

Ink so I can print photos at home and scrapbook.

Cute little houndstooth rain boots. (just for me)

Gas in the car and truck.

Gas heater (installed after last years ice storm)

I think we are as ready as can be. Our weather men are predicting 3/4 inch of ice and up to 10 inches of snow for us. You know they are wrong so often but I am afraid this time they may be right. I will enjoy the time with family and if we lose power for days on end we'll pretend we are Pa, Ma and Laura Ingalls, without the cows to milk and Nellie Olsen to harrass us and with cute houndstooth rain boots.

Hope you all stay warm and safe throughout this storm.

Blessings,

Pam

MORE VALENTINE DECOR

This is a horrible photo but it is a hershey's kiss wrapped in tulle with a bow. I have to get a couple more to put under my cloche

Tulle wreath I started at Halloween and finished. I added some red tulle for Valentine

Two of my LOVE items. The one on the right is so adorable. The picture doesn't do it justice with the red jems.

Our wedding invitation in a frame that we received for a wedding gift. I bring it out each Valentine season.

A project I have wanted to do for a long time. I used my Cricut and made it from vinyl.

I also cleaned up the craft room so that I can actually use my table for crafting. I put all my unfinished projects into 1 bin so that I can hopefully take out 1 at a time and finish it. I even worked on my December Daily Christmas album that is now December Christmas album.

Back to the working world tomorrow. On Friday when I took Coco to school she got in the car and said "I wish you could get layed off from school" LOL she doesn't like getting up in the morning when me or Daddy have the day off.

Blessings,
Pam

VALENTINE DECOR

I have been decorating for Valentines Day.

This is 3 bags of candy hearts and I need a couple more, I didn't realize my vase was so deep. By the way I got 2 of these hurricane vases after Christmas at Walmart for $5.00 each. I wanted them when they were $20.00 but kept telling myself no. I am so glad I waited.

Here is our Valentine tree. I used this tree on my desk at work for Christmas and thought it would look great to use as Valentines.

I found all the trimmings at my favorite place of all time Hobby Lobby. My husband thinks I alone keep them in business. If only he knew! he he he he

I have spent today relaxing and working on a couple of unfinished projects. It has rained the entire day so I didn't want to get out except to walk to the mailbox. I was hoping to get a new magazine to read but no such luck. I will show you pictures of what I have been working on and some more Valentine treats. I have so many projects that are half way completed, does anyone else do this? I am gung ho at the moment but then I lose it if it is something that I can't finish in one sitting. Trying to work on not doing it this year.

I watched My Sisters Keeper today. It was a good movie, I had read the book last year and enjoyed it too. It has been so long since I read it that I didn't quite remember all so it didn't ruin the movie for me. I just love Abigail Breslin, such a strong actress for a little girl.

Ok I am off to wind down before going to bed!

Blessings,

Pam

CERAMICS AND CLAY

My Girl Scout troop went to the Crafty Cottage in Bentonville last night. We earned the ceramics and clay badge. Crafty Cottage is a fabulous place for all kinds of crafts. They teach sewing, knitting, pottery, basket weaving, etc. My girls had a great time. I knew it was good when Sunny turned to me and said "This is the best place ever". I love watching them learn something new and to see how each of their personalities come out.

If you are local and would like to check out Crafty Cottage go to http://www.craftycottage.net/

and tell GiGi I sent you. All the employees were so helpful and talented

Below are some photos of our night.

Finally set my date on the camera today.

So much concentration. We made a pinch pot and added coils to make a coil pot. At one point mine looked more like a toilet! The girls got a kick out of that

We also painted a piece of pottery. One of the Moms was in charge of taking pictures. Even though I don't like photos of myself I am glad she captures some so that Coco and I will have the memories.

The troop has been busy selling cookies the past couple of weeks. Cookie sales are alot of work but luckily I have a great Cookie Mom to take of that for us. If you know a Girl Scout buy some cookies to support their troop. This is 1 of the only ways they have money to fund trips like the Crafty Cottage.

Blessings,

Pam

SATURDAY SPECIAL

Today was a day for Girl Scouting and Broadway.

The Walton Arts Center hosted a Broadyway Theater day for the junior Girl Scouts.

I also used the day to get some photos of Coco.

I edited them in Picnik. Love it love it love it.

LOVING THIS ONE!

ORTON-ISH is my new BFF.

Melissa and Kassie with my girls. They were wonderful teachers and so much energy!!

Part of the treat of today was getting to see A YEAR OF FROG AND TOAD. The girls in the seats prior to the play starting. It was a great children's musical adapted from the books.

I had to take a photo of this truck parked on the street. I am betting they are little bit vintage / bohemian. Think so??

 Building next to Nadine Baum Studio. I loved the green / white and black.

We had a very fun day learning about the theater. I don't know if any of my girls will take up acting and singing but it would be great if they did! It would be a great activity to take up local theater. I have even thought about auditioning for a local play but I am terrified of forgetting my lines or having stage fright once I had to perform in front of a audience. Maybe it will go on my bucket list.

Looking forward to hearing a good sermon tomorrow. Our pastor has taken a sabbatical so we have a substitute pastor that is on FIRE for the lord and getting the message out. Very powerful speaker. I am going to enjoy having him for a couple of months.

Y'all have a fantastic Sunday!

Blessings

Pam

M.I.A.

Yep that is where I have been. Actually I have been lazy this week and watching to much reality tv. Scott and I watched Jersey Shore for like 2 hours last night, yes I even chose it over Project Runway!
Stupid
Stupid
Stupid

Enough of that!

HAITI

I can not even imagine what it is like down there. I have also watched alot of Anderson Cooper this week. My thoughts keep turning to what if that were my home, my family, my children. I want to do SOMETHING!!! I want to get in the car and go, mission work scares me to death! But that is how bad I want to help, I feel like I am just sitting here in comfort when so much needs to be done there.

I can't go but I what I can do is send money, I have $10.00 that I can text Haiti to 90999 to give $10 to Red Cross. It will be charged to your next cell phone bill. Easy Peasy. You can also text disaster to 90999 to give $10 to Compassion International. They said tonight that before the earthquake there were 400,000 orphans in Haiti. Now that number will surely increase. This just breaks my heart. Why don't they bring them all to us and make it easier to adopt???  Seems so simple to me!

You can also get on your knees and PRAY for these people, the doctors, nurses, mission workers, volunteers, etc.

There is also a church in Springdale accepting donations of items that will be taken to Haiti. It is Victory ____ on 48th street. They will be accepting donations all through the weekend. For a list of items requested go to http://www.klrc.com/

Whatever you do don't stop praying! This is not going away anytime soon and they need our help now and for days, months, years to come!

Blessings,
Pam

PICNIK IS AWESOME

I have been struggling with photoshop, trying to learn how to edit more than cropping and changing to black & white. A friend had told me about Picnik several months ago and tonight I tried it.

This is after some softening and a vignette (the shading around the edges)

Same thing on this photo but it allows you to choose colors on a slide. It actually chose the greens due to the colors in the photo for me.

It ran quite slow but I am going to keep trying it out.

What editing software or place do you use?

Is it simple and inexpensive?

Picnik Rocks

SATURDAY HAPPENINGS

I went in to work a few hours today. After Coco's basketball game her Daddy dropped her off with me. He was going to Walmart and she hates to go to Walmart (unless she has money in her pocket).

I was making a file label on the typewriter and she asks me What is that? YES SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE TYPEWRITER!

THE GIRL DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS!

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT ?

She has walked by that machine several times and has never noticed it I guess.

It didn't take long for her to figure it out!

This is where I spent my Saturday!

I came home and made breakfast for dinner. Chocolate gravy, biscuits, scrambled eggs and bacon! Yummy.

Then I spent the next 3 hours working on pictures!

Getting tired and looking forward to church in the morning!

Blessings,

Pam

P.S. I don't know why my camera is dating these for 6-22-07??? Weird

Oh and Coco won her basketball game, this is the first win all year :) This is the first year for any of them to play basketball so I am proud of them!

DINNER AT EL PLATAPUS

School was out again today which meant no work for me!

I changed my settings and it was supposed to be easier to upload photos (it was) but now I can't figure out how to move them around.

I spent most of my day preparing for this! ERRRRRGGGGGGG

I hate doing our taxes and going through all these receipts. I should keep better records instead of waiting until January to begin!

Coco wanted to play restaurant. The name of her restaurant is El Platapus. She took our orders of Shepherds pie, green beans and coke. Here she is below taking Daddy's order. In the photo above she is delivering our meals. The money is her fake money tip!!!

I can't figure this thing out and it is 1:32 am ! I have to go to work in the morning so Blessings to you!

Pam

FINDING LOVE IN 2010

This is more like Monday night TV review.

If you were a single gal in 2010, how would you go about finding love?

Below are 2 ways from reality TV!

THE BACHELOR REVIEW

1. I love Jake, I think he is going to be fun to watch

2. I was impressed that he was so nervous (not arrogant)

3. I loved that he said his priorities are God, Family and Friends, in that order

The Girls

1. Most of the girls seem to be down to earth REAL girls this time.

2. Two of the girls tripped, I thought both handled it really well.

3. I think the crazy one is going to be Michelle. Come on, CRYING because you haven't gotten alone time with him and showing signs of jealousy. Watch out Jake, sleep with one eye open.

4. The girl that spoke to him in Cambodian?? Jake wasn't impressed, he sent her home.

5. The girl in the beginning that brought parting gifts of jelly beans because all the others were going home, that was rude! She is not there to make friends.

6. Roslyn?? She has some skeletons in her closet I think. Going to get interesting

I think this is going to be a fun season to watch. Lots of drama and romance. I also think and hope Jake will be one to do his romancing tastefully and respectfully. Please don't let me down Jake.

On to the other show of the night

CONVEYOR BELT OF LOVE

OK I just had to watch this to see what it was about! Oh my, can you just imagine watching guys come through on a conveyor belt and you get to choose if you are Interested or Not Interested. Then you go on a date with the one you picked. If 2 girls picked the same guy then the guy got to pick which girl.

1. It was funny

2. I can't get my head around, picking a date like this.

3. Not sure if this is like a real dating show or not.

4. There are some strange characters out in this world.

I am so thankful that I am married and not in the dating scene now adays! I just don't know how I would go about meeting someone if I had to.

Would I have been willing to enter a dating show like the bachelor when I was single??

I don't know, maybe

I actually liked dating and getting to know people back then. Dating was fun and I got to go out to nice dinners (most of the time).

There is also this speed dating. That kinda sounds interesting but then again it is more like a job interview.

What happened to meeting someone at the grocery store? OK, maybe that is just in the movies.

I leave you with

DATING WOULD BE HARD IN 2010

Blessings,

Pam

WEDDING PHOTOSHOOT

I had the honor of taking pictures at my cousins wedding yesterday.
It was a beautiful wedding.

Here is Dad with empty pockets after the wedding.

These are her 3 daughters. Alice, Zoe and Olivia

Olivia (far right) was born at just a little over 1lb and now she is 3 years old and healthy as can be. I just fell in love with her. They are all so sweet and so well behaved.

The cake was red velvet and gorgeous.

My aunt Donna and Uncle Ronnie with their granddaughters

The whole crew. Great family photo

It was a great day!

Congrats to Angela and Eric

May you have many many years of wedded bliss