Category: Inspiration

Painting Wicker Patio Furniture

What is it about moving into a new place that gets us all excited? The prospects, the dreams, ideas and then truly making it a home. It is like a fresh start, a way to do all the things you have always wanted to do. So you know what that means. It’s time to search the web and look for inspiration and the possibilities are endless.

Once we moved in my “To Do” list has grown by a miles and miles. One project that I already started was painting wicker patio furniture that my Mom had given to us. Then, of course, I also wanted to make covers for the existing cushions, but that will come next.

The wicker furniture was white with rose colored cushions which definitely needed an update. I chose KONA coffee color by Rust-o-leum, I bought the 2x double coat, glossy. All in all I used about 8 cans of paint, not bad considering new furniture is well into the hundreds of dollars plus I saved money with the True Value hardware coupons I used.

Wicker chair before painting

Wicker couch before Painting

The perfect opportunity to teach my oldest son how to spray paint, he loved doing it.

Voila, the After! I think it looks like a new set!

Can’t wait to make the seat covers, I have the perfect fabric for the job. Here’s to a new place with new possibilities!

April 6, 2013
Easter Fun with Lego

Of course, I was again inspired on Pinterest! Last year I created a board called Easter Fun, where I pinned some really cute and fun ideas. Unfortunately, by the time Easter rolled around I forgot all about my little Easter fun board. This year I decided to look through my boards and do projects that I had already pinned before. That is when I came across this fun idea. Anything to do with Legos and my boys are game. This project covers the death and resurrection of Jesus. They know the story about Jesus being put to death and they know the amazing story of Him rising from the tomb, now to put it all together – what fun!

I grabbed some small cake pans from the Dollar Store and a bag of play sand from True Value hardware store, total cost = under $8.00. When I showed the boys their inspiration they loved it and JUMPED right in. They all started building Lego tombs immediately.

Cake pans, play sand, pebbles, sticks and Legos.

Placing the tomb, laying the path

This was a fun activity but I did want to make sure that the kids heard the story again.

It never gets old. It never ceases to bring me to tears.

He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our sins,

the punishment that brought us peace, was upon Him

By His wounds we are healed.

—

Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, He is RISEN!

Enjoy this fantastic song!

April 3, 2013
Using Wall Decals

All over Pinterest these days I’ve been seeing those way cool sayings and scriptures people are putting up in their homes on their walls. I love them but thought there was no way I could paint letters in a straight line let alone make them look consistent. I would just have to admire them on Pinterest.

However, a little trip to Hobby Lobby and everything changed! They have wall decals that cause no damage to surfaces, love that! The selection was huge and my husband even liked the idea. We picked out three and headed to our new home excited to put them up.

I started with one wall decal in our living room, but it took about 45 minutes to get about 4 words done! My walls happen to be textured which makes them not so easy to work with. I was a bit discouraged and gave up for a few days. I was sitting there thinking I wish I had a shiny, smooth surface available… and voila!

I was scouting a location and boom, the side of my IKEA Expedit was perfect! When you are walking down our hall it is the main focal point.

I love it! Do you?

March 23, 2013
My Budding Photographer

My oldest son has taken a liking to photography and I couldn’t be happier! He has been taking a photography class and he has loved it. We visited an Italian Festival a couple of weeks ago and we let him loose with the camera. It wasn’t until this week that I looked at the pictures. He did a fantastic job. He snapped handcrafted goods, people and food. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the festival through his eyes.

October 10, 2012
Green Chili Chicken Burritos

Ooooooooo do I have say anything more? Yes? Well ok. These are to-die-for Smothered Chicken Burritos made with Green Chili from fresh roasted Hatch green chili’s. We usually eat bean burritos, the tradition passed down from my Mom. Recently, my Husband asked me to make chicken ones. No problem, sounded good to me, I used my usual recipe but switched out beans for chicken . Inside I slathered sour cream, pan fried chicken breast, and shredded cheese. Top with pork green chili and cheese, pop in the microwave for 1 minute.

Of course we just got bushels of fresh roasted chili, we are gung-ho with smothering everything in it. I made our family recipe for pork green chili with them.

If you pick some up – be sure to let them steam in the bag they come in for a couple of hours, the skin comes off like a glove. I peel, rinse, and store in freezer bags. I freeze about 4-5 in a bag, perfect amount for most recipes.

Green chili can add the extra flavor you crave on just about any of your favorite foods like cheeseburgers, burritos, chicken burritos, enchiladas, breakfast foods, eggs, potatoes… you name it!

September 8, 2012
End of Summer Moments to Remember

One of my favorite blogs, one of the blogs that was a huge help early in my homeschool journey is 1+1+1=1. I was at her site recently and I came across a link-up that sounds fantastic.

Here is the description:
“Moments to Remember was developed as a simple way to look back on our week as homeschoolers and find photos that encompass the memories we want to remember.
The week may have been tough, there may have been more bumps than smiles, but in the end these are the moments that keep us going, the ones we need to remember.”

I love this idea. Especially since I know this blog is basically my journal, something I can look back on in the years to come.

This week was our last week of Summer, we start school on Monday. We headed downtown for some family fun…

My youngest also turned four!

Here’s to a fantastically fun Summer, now on to School and my favorite Season of all Fall!

August 25, 2012
Back to School Pictures Printable

Homeschooling + Pinterest = endless ideas for everything! Last year Pinterest inspired me to take cute back to school pics. Two trends stuck so I went with both: I loved the ideas and went back this year only to find that the signs I used from last year are gone. I looked around and did not find much. I decided to open Publisher and make some! Can’t wait to use them when we start school.

Here is a sample back to school printable…

Help yourself to these printables:

PreK

1st

2nd_Grade

3rd Grade

4th_Grade

5th_Grade

6th_Grade

7th_Grade

8th_Grade

9th_Grade

10th_Grade

11th_Grade

12th_Grade

August 24, 2012
Moments to Remember

One of my favorite blogs, one of the blogs that was a huge help early in my homeschool journey is 1+1+1=1. I was at her site this morning and I just came across a link-up that sounds fantastic.

Here is the description:
“Moments to Remember was developed as a simple way to look back on our week as homeschoolers and find photos that encompass the memories we want to remember.
The week may have been tough, there may have been more bumps than smiles, but in the end these are the moments that keep us going, the ones we need to remember.”

I love this idea. Especially since I know this blog is basically my journal, something I can look back on in the years to come. This is my first Moments to Remember post. These really are moments of a wonderful week with my kids and nephew.

We took a trip to Downtown Denver!

We ate hot dogs, played at playgrounds and went to the “big” library.

Reading is fun, we love the library, especially the main Downtown Denver branch.

Enjoying delicious hot dogs downtown

My almost 4 year took this pic of me at the playground. He had come and sat with me to draw while I worked on our calendar. He was so talkative and sweet, it was a precious moment. To the right – reading his Marvel Hero Magazine on the tramp. I found him out there all by himself, it was sweet. And yes, he is in his underwear and they are on backwards 🙂

That was a glimpse into our week and for me, some of the best moments wrapped up into 1.

Thank you Carisa for all the inspiration you provide!

Related: Moments to Remember Link-up

August 11, 2012
Tragedy in Aurora – What to do?

Tragedy has stuck Colorado once again. I woke up in the middle of the night to send an email that was on my mind and I decided to check Facebook real quick. The most Recent Story was my local news channel reporting the theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado at the midnight premiere of Batman. Then I see my cousin posted about it and was listening to the police scanners.

How terrible a tragedy.

People innocently celebrating the return of an all time Super Hero. My heart hurts when I think of the jovial mood… the young kids and teens, the young adults. I am sure happiness filled the air. Then all of it shattered in an instant.

71 people shot, 12 dead.

Some were dressed up in costumes, they were so vulnerable, nobody could have ever seen this coming. So what do we do? What is the most important thing we can do? PRAYER of course. Prayer for the victims who are dealing with injuries, the witnesses who will be scarred for life, the families of the departed ones, the responders… and our Nation.

July 20, 2012
A Hike Up Waterton Canyon

Living in Colorado, we are never lacking a place to spend the outdoors! We especially love the mountains. So many trails, parks, rivers, it is a dream living so close to it all.

One place we love to go is hiking in Waterton Canyon in the foothills of the Rockies. My husband took the boys there recently and they spent 4 hours, hiking, fishing, climbing and exploring.

The best classroom ever!

I had to enlarge this first picture for you …

my boys!

July 19, 2012