Category: Inspiration

  • A Great Ladies Night Out!

    painting class
    Recently, thanks to Living Social I had a fantastic afternoon out with my Mom and Sister.  I must say that since Groupon started it all, we have been able to do things we would never do.

    This deal was for a painting class that includes a glass of wine, so it is called Painting and Sipping.  Sounded fun.  I have always wanted to paint on canvas but would never, ever go buy all the supplies.  We have plenty of poster paint, finger paint and water colors but nothing fancy.

    painting class

    This was a great opportunity to get my hands dirty so to speak.

    I sent the link to my Mom and she was in, she also  bought one for my sister to join us.  You can go to their website and look at a calendar and see the subject that is to be taught that day.  Some are flowers, Van Gogh, Water Sunsets, French Rivera, Snowflakes, Dandelions, Sisters, and some others.

    We went to a session they call “Standing Tall”… Here is the artists picture:

    SippingandPainting
    Sipping and Painting

    The studio is located in LoHi (Lower Highlands) close to the restaurant Lola.  We walked into a great space with rustic wood floors, high ceilings and artists stations set up everywhere.

    Once everyone has put paint on a plate and had a seat, the artist goes up and starts instruction.  She then walks around and helps you individually and returns to the front for the next step.
    blank canvas

    my paint

    We all enjoyed it very much.  It was really fun and relaxing.

    Here are the final products (one note I must mention, our paint dried before we could blend so the reult with a bright flash looks like a striped background.  To the naked eye the stripes are not that dramatic,*steps off of soapbox*):

    my canvas painting
    my painting
    moms painting
    My Moms Painting
    sisters painting
    My Sister's Painting

    The do look lovely in our homes, what a great treasure packed with memories of a fun date with my Mom and Sis … Thanks Ladies!!

    I highly recommend trying a painting class, just one session is fun!  If you love it sign up for more.

    We went to Sipping and Painting in Denver.

  • Rethinking the Coat Closet

    Being a homeschooler and living in a small space can be frustrating at times. I pretty much turned my living room into a school room, then over time, a couch and love seat were brought in. I needed space but wasn’t sure what else could be done.

    Recently while cruising a blog hop I found this blog and wow I am soooo thankful I did, so thankful for the inspiration. She had all of her storage bins in her coat closet. I went to work right away!

    BEFORE:

    Classroom Wall

    AFTER:

    Coat Closet Storage
    Coat Closet Storage
    Coat Closet Storage
    PlayDoh, Crafts, Books, Games and Puzzles
    Coat Closet Storage
    Markers, Crayons, Chalk, Office Supplies

    Oops I guess I forgot to take “Before” pictures of the closet and “After” pictures of the Living Room. :O)

  • Easy Tie Dye Shirts

    I have always loved tie-dyed shirts, loved them.  Bright bursts of color splashed on a sparkling white tee.  Pretty!  I have wanted to make one for ever but just felt like it would be hard.  Until recently.

    I came across a spray bottled tie dye kit, it looked easy enough so I had to try it.

    tumble dye
    Tumble Dye

    We bought 3 white tee’s for only $3 a piece!  The kit was 7.99.

    We twisted and rubber-banded the shirts then sprayed the tie dye all over, set to dry…

    Tumble Dye
    drying

    we let dry 24 hours…

    Tumble Dye
    pretty!

    When we took the bands off there was still alot of white so we re-banded it and sprayed some more tie dye on, dried some more… then to the dryer for 15 minutes…

    Tumble Dye Shirts
    the boys

    When they got outside in their new tie dye shirts it was all fun n games! The boys would NOT cooperate for pictures, but I can’t really blame them – 60 degrees in January!  Hope you can see the shirts…

    Oliver
    Oliver

    Some more…

    Preston
    Preston

    Overall cost – $20, not bad for 3 Super-Cool shirts!

    the boys
    playing in their new tie dye shirts
  • Reflecting Back and Looking Forward: Family Vacations

    vacation

    What other word can bring a smile across your face faster than the  word Vacation? Awwee just saying it conjures up such warm, happy  feelings.

    As a child we always took a family trip in the Summer. Most of the  time it was driving to Las Vegas and then on to Los Angeles and San  Diego. I loved that road trip and came to love those cities. Even  traveled back to them several times as an adult.

    Other times we took trips around Colorado and New Mexico.  Traveling around Colorado was always a treat since we mostly  stayed in the great Rocky Mountains. Estes Park was always on our  list of Summer destinations. The Stanley Hotel, from the movie The  Shining, was so grand looking to me as a child.   In Estes (as the  locals call it) we would also frequent the bumper boats, go carts and  the huge slides. Talking about all this takes me right back there.

    Traveling south to New Mexico to visit Taos and Sante Fe both those towns left a great impression on my young mind. Such neat places with shops and galleries, so much to admire and look at. We would go further south down into Mexico and go shopping too. What rich memories fill my mind; traveling through the markets with my parents, who were hunting down treasures to sell at their store. The sites, sounds and people from another culture were like candy to me, so much excitement, activity, I loved it.

    Mexican Market
    Mexican Market

    As an adult I traveled extensively to Mexico.  I have always had a heart for that country.  I have felt that way most of  life. Reflecting on that I think it may have started when I traveled there with family.

    Ethnic Mexican Dresses

    The travel bug bit me but I also had a full time job. I was jealous of friends I knew who were spending their 20’s backpacking and rafting through Central America. I had to stay satisfied with short trips and 1 extensive stay in Guadalajara. I will forever dream of “backpacking” around.

    Fast forward: 2011, 3 kids, no vacation in more years than I can remember. Which is ok we do take day trips around Colorado, which I still love to do. However, like most other families we dream of the “Cruise” vacation, or a Disney Vacation, Legoland, NYC, you get the picture.

    But when I sat down and really thought about where I would want to go to spend quality time with my family…. the answer came so quickly… which surprised me.

    I have never been to this place but have heard from people who have. They say it is like being in a fairy tale book, trees taller and bigger than you can dream up, trees you can drive through, the lushest greenest vegetation you have ever laid eyes on….
    Redwoods

    Do you know where? Redwood National Forest, Oregon, Washington State, a driving tour up the NW Coast. Starting in Northern California then ending up in Victoria, BC would be so cool.

    Oregon
    Oregon

    That is my goal, to take my husband and 3 boys and runaway for a couple of weeks. A nice drive up the coast, staying in cabins along the way. I think it would be amazing and breathtaking. What a perfect way to introduce my kids to traveling.

    Here is to starting that Vacation Savings Account we have always talked about!
    Redwoods

    What U.S. Destination do you want to see with your family this Summer?


    “I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Alamo blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

  • I am Sweetly Broken, Wholly Surrendered

    This is one of the first songs I started listening to when God first called me into new life… brings back a flood of emotions.  Even now I am touched and reminded of the gift I have been given.  Beautiful words that are so true.

    I came across this video and wanted to share it.

  • A Challenge I am Ready for

    Ever since I started Homeschooling or researching it, for that matter, I have found really good blogs written by other Moms. Recently, I noticed a few of them began talking about a challenge they were about to begin on.

    *Flash Forward* Just the other night I was telling my friends that I am starving for the Word, I have not been in it like I want to be.  I started working a new schedule in the Fall so I had to stop attending my regular Bible Study.  I have been in a study a year ever since He called me 4 years ago, this year has been different.

    Finding this challenge, I feel is Gods answer to my pray that I find a way to get back into His Word.  The challenge I speak of is called Read the Bible in 90 Days.  I first heard of it from The Kelley Eight blog and she links back to the originator at Moms Toolbox.

    This isn’t just a speed reading idea, not at all.  The way the schedule is set up, it is in nice sized chunks.  Then after reading it you do the devotional part.

    They also hold Twitter parties and a check in on Mondays to help keep everyone motivated and accountable.  Thank you ladies!!!

    I am really looking forward to this and I am thrilled that Lord has answered prayer so quickly.

    Now my prayer is to STAY in the Word.   Would you join me?

    Bible-in-90-Days_2011read

  • Who Will Love Me for Me?

    Who will love you for you, only you? Not for what you can do or what you will do? Who will love you for you, no matter what you do or say?

    There is only one answer.
    His love is unfailing.
    His love endures forever.
    He does not change.
    He is faithful and forgiving.
    He created you, He knew your name before time, He loves you and will never leave you.

    JJ Heller is an amazing singer and her husband plays guitar beautifully. Combined they create incredibly touching music. They first got me with Your Hands, it blew me away, touched me, I loved it. A reminder of the Lord’s steady hands guiding me through a fallen world.

    Now they have done it again with What Love Really Means.

    Take a moment to watch and remember the One who will always be there, who will always love you and who will wipe away every tear.

    Happy New Year – you are loved!

  • A Few Forgotten Pictures from 2010

    rocky_mountain_moss
    Rocky Mountain Moss

    Clement Park
    One of our favorite parks

    Sometimes I miss photo albums, sitting down and flipping through, lingering on some. Sifting through memories. It just isn’t the same with digital pictures sometimes. Although I would not go back to film for a million dollars, I just wish it was easier to flip through pictures.

    I was looking through pictures on my computer and came across some pictures that were lost in the shuffle this past year. I have posted kids, homeschool and food. These are of places around Denver. Hope you like as much as I do…

    Downtown Denver Cherry Creek Trail
    Downtown Denver and the Cherry Creek Trail

    Cheesman Park
    One of Denver’s Many Historic Parks

    Lakewood Historic Museum
    Old Fire Engine

    Denver Art Museum
    Denver Art Museum

    Denver Performing Arts Complex
    Denver Performing Arts Complex

    engine 683 Colorado Railroad Museum
    engine 683 Colorado Railroad Museum

    the boys
    the boys, my 3 sweethearts + my sweet nephew Adam

    Denver Public Library
    Denver Public Library

    Qwest 1801
    Where my husband and I first met!

    old church building
    old church building

  • Merry Christmas

    Christmas Ornaments Made by Children on Tree
    The time is here, the time of year to celebrate the birth of our Savior. So much about this season is joyous, comforting, heart-warming. It’s a time to come together with family, enjoy fellowship, happily fill our bellies with homemade meals and goodies. Such a happy time.

    It is no wonder that the scriptures describing the events that actually took place touch me so deeply. It tells of the greatest gift ever given. God’s own Son. It is so incredible to picture these events taking place. I can’t ever read the following without getting teary-eyed. EnjoY! Merry Christmas!
    manger
    The Shepherds and the Angels
    8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

    14 “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” [3]

    15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

    ESV

  • Boys Love This Craft… R2D2!

    My boys are crazy for Star Wars, they love it!  I just picked up the box set of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi for them for Christmas.  It was one of their lightning deals for only $22!

    Recently, I came across a crafts section of the Star Wars website. They had a fun R2D2 craft made from felt.  I had tons of foam squares so we pulled them out and the boys went to work…

    R2D2 Craft
    R2D2 Craft

    They used construction paper for his top part and colored it silver. They also used construction paper for his body.  The rest was made from foam and they glued them onto a foam base.  Elmers glue worked well.

    They enjoyed it and I think they turned out really cute.  Thanks Star Wars!