Summer Top 2

This week's top 2 is "2 things you love about summer".

1. A tan.

Scold me if you want, but I am a woman in my 30's, and if I want a tan I'm getting one. Real, fake, sprayed, however. I don't want to bake myself to look like a Louis Vuitton, (mostly because if I did my neighbor would kidnap me - she's obsessed with LV), but I like to be able to wear shorts with less fear. (notice I said less fear, not no fear).

(I should also not that if you ever attempt to google "suntan images", there is a lot of nasty, and often unattractive, nudity. Yikes.)

2. The pool.

How many other activities can you come up with that all 3 kids will agree on?? (other than Chuck e Cheese - and tha's a BIG no). Pack a lunch and some towels - done.

The kids get worn out, and I get a healthy dose of my #1.

LittlebitsDesigns.com

Homemade Bungee Jumping- A look back

You know you're a mom when you save your youngest child from a homemade bungee jumping disaster....

Full story here :)

You know you have these ugly things somewhere....

Easter...
Special dresses, new shoes, and a pretty basket for your eggs.

My oldest son's first easter basket had real grass. Seriously. I planned ahead, lined the basket, filled it with dirt, and grew sweet little green grass for his easter eggs from the bunny.

Oh, how things change.

Last year my daughter(#3), had a beautiful dress I had slaved over(seen here), but she collected her eggs in a plastic grocery sack.

As parents, I think most of us have ended up with one of these inexpensive easter baskets. It may have come filled with stuff the kids loved, but the basket is tossed aside. I decided to make use of mine.




If you need storage for your crap stuff, these are seriously the cheapest thing you could find. Probably 10 cents at a garage sale or thrift store, or free from anyone that has them lying around.



I'll get to these guys in a second.
I bet you're having a hard time breaking your eyes away from the stunning painting of a snowy pond in a forest, but please keep up.



First, I took off the handle. It was barely even attatched, probably assembled by a small child in China.
Then, I spray painted the baskets dark brown.
I chose a dark color because the dye in the basket would most likely bleed through without a primer, and I am trying to keep this simple and cheap.




I then made the liners.
If you want complete instructions on how to do this, leave me a comment and I will send them to you.




Tah-dah!! Cute huh?

What to put in it??
Crayons, desk supplies, vitamin bottles, nail polish,




...or maybe napkins.


Remember the ugly frame?? I made it into a memo board for my(super awesome) neighbor.




A blue paint finish, some foam core board, batting and fabric.

She will probably fill her basket with lotion. She showed me her secret stash one day, and WOW - she is a lotion hoarder.




I made the memo board out of the empty frame, not the one with the lovely painting.

Speaking of easter, I need to post pictures of the easter dress I made for Lilly this year. (mostly because I know you are all waiting with baited breath to see it).
I stayed up until 4 am 3 nights in a row to finish it, so humor me, please...

Chandelier Makeover

As I sat Lilly on the edge of her bed to get dressed, I noticed how sweet her little hands and feet looked. I begged her not to move ,(miraculously she didn't), and I ran for my camera.

Chubby hands, sweet little scraped up legs, and mary janes.
Those 3 things make me happy.

I'll get back to work now...
OK. Picture a really ugly, brass chandelier. My neighbor ,Melia ,brought one to me after reading the blog post here.

Melia could probably talk me into doing almost anything, because she makes the cutest custom clothes EVER, and she likes to trade. So, she got a chandelier makeover for her kitchen, and I got 2 precious outfits for Lilly.




This will hang in a kitchen that is black, white, and soft apple green.




I think she is going to add black/white check shades.





Please pardon the fact that it is hanging from my deck.
(Again, my sister is the photographer--I'm the painter :)




I'll post pictures of this once it is hung in it's new home down the street.




LittlebitsDesigns.com

Spray paint and weeds

Fresh flowers are one of life's little pleasures for me. So, here's a little project that is pretty much as cheap as it gets.




I bought three little glass containers for .25 each.
Igot 3 different heights so they would look good grouped together.
All I did was spray paint them white.
Well, that and scavenge my yard for weeds flowers.
To be honest, the pink ones came from my neighbor.
(Meg, if you're reading this, I stole them off your shrub :)







I think they look sweet grouped together in Lilly's room.

This would be a really cheap way to decorate for a party or holiday, with whatever colors you want. You could change the colors over and over.

I usually insist on good spray paint for projects. But this time, get the cheap stuff.
Just remember to not get in a hurry. A few light coats is much better than trying to do it all at once.
You don't want a drippy mess.

Obviously, you can't put these in the dishwasher. But, once you tire of them, you can put them in the recycle bin without one ioda of guilt.


LittlebitsDesigns.com

Friday Fives

My neighbor's Friday Fives link up this week is "5 things you may not know about me".

1. I have a serious aversion to hair that is no longer attatched to it's owner. It really bothers me to see hair on the floor. Especially in the bathroom or kitchen. I will pick it up with a tissue so I don't have to touch it. (even if it's mine).

2. I am dying to know how dinosaurs fit into biblical times. I'm a christian, I believe the bible is the word of God. I just wish he had explained the whole dinosaur thing a little better...

3. My toenails are always painted. Even in the winter when no one sees my feet.

4. I will not eat meat from Taco Bell. As far as I'm concerned, I might as well pop open a can of dog food and pour it in a taco shell.

5. I know just about everything there is to know about Charles Manson.
No, I don't like him. Yes, he scares me.




LittlebitsDesigns.com

My favorite teacher gifts

Topic at Kelly's Korner-----teacher gifts.


Since I am (thankfully), not a teacher, I guess I will share a few of the things I have made for teachers.


Some of them may have preferred a gift card...




Personalized travel mugs. I put a Starbucks gift card in these.

Cookie jars. I usually have put the teacher's family on them. Last year, my son's teacher was single, so I put each child in the class on there. She LOVED it.

These square plates were a hit. I liked them because they were so easy...

Plates or platters with the teacher's family. I always hate the moment when I have to ask, "What is your husband's name, and what does he look like?" They have no idea why I'm asking, and they must think it's odd.

My old faithful. You can never go wrong with a Christmas plate. (Unless your teacher is jewish).

I will now shamefully plug my website...www.littlebitsdesigns.com

Pretty feet a la crock pot..

I met a woman once that looked about 30, and revealed to me that she was 50. I was floored. I asked her what her secret was. She said,

"I never marrried, and I never had kids."



Well, I like my husband a lot. My kids are pretty great too. So, I guess I should depend on a beauty routine.









The Top 2 Tuesday at The Undomestic Mama is Beauty Tips.



My first tip includes a crock pot.








I have a thing about keeping my feet nice. Nothing is nastier than seeing a woman in flip flops with nasty feet. Keep 'em clean ladies.


A homemade paraffin dip is cheap, easy, and very effective.


You need a crock pot large enough to fit your foot into without touching the sides. It does not have to be a fancy, or top of the line crock pot. You're gonna put your feet in it.....



You will need 3 lbs of paraffin wax. I got mine at Sally Beauty Supply. I chose lavender scented.


Melt the wax, and add 1/2 cup mineral oil. (baby oil)


Using a candy thermometer, let the wax cool to 125 degrees.


Dip your foot, let it momentarily cool. Repeat and dip up to 10 times.

Wrap your foot in a plastic bag, then cover with a towel.

After about 10 minutes, remove covers, and peel off wax.

Your feet will be sooooo soft!


#2

Bare Minerals Make up.

I hate wearing make up. But, since I 'm not Heidi Klum, I have to anyway.This stuff is just awesome. I will NEVER use liquid make up again.

Just don't ever try to put it on in the car,on the way to church, in a white dress....I learned that the hard way.

LittlebitsDesigns.com

Choked up over a chair...

I'm not goingt to have any more babies (unless a certain urologist seriously screwed up).

I hate to think that time in my life is over. I love babies.


I do, however, enjoy what sanity I have left, and hope to keep it.

I had to finally part with our highchair. I held on as long as I could. I justified it by telling myself that Lilly could use it as a booster seat at the table if I took off the tray.

I know -- that's silly.




The only thing that made it easier is I know it's going to a good home. My neighbor Beth is going to take it to her sweet mom 's house for future grandchildren.


As I sewed the cushions for the highchair, I fell more and more in love with this fabric. I went back for more, and it was gone. I searched the internet...nothing.



I have never seen it again. I still have a little left. I don't have the heart to cut it.






I love the cupcakes, cotton candy, gumdrops, and suckers.



Sweet like my baby girl.
(in a witch dress. ..and her pajamas. ..getting paint all over my desk.)








LittlebitsDesigns.com

Big box of 80's laughs

Let me start this by saying how much I love my husband for putting up with my twisted sense of humor. He is the most wonderful man alive.

The subject at the funniest blog ever(she just happens to be my fabulous neighbor) is 5 things that make you laugh. I immediately thought of this box.

My in laws brought this box with them on their last visit to Nashville. They said it was things they had "saved from Todd's childhood". I'm thinking pictures, trophys, etc.

Ummmmm. No.

This box was filled with stuff that made me laugh till I hurt. Maybe it was so funny because so many of these things were so unlike the man he is now. They gave me a window into his boyhood. A boyhood that could seem very disturbing (if I didn't know better) based on some of these items.....

Ok. This is totally normal 80's stuff. We all had a Simon and a Rubik's cube.
All you twenty somethings out there - don't knock 'em. These babies were awesome in their day.

Survival knife. I know this is the type of thing my 10 year old would think is awesome for camping. Again, totally normal.

Guns 'n' Roses cassette.
Well loved before CD's, and before Guns 'n' Roses were categorized as classic rock.

A leather bracelet with his name. Could be considered tough and manly.....if not for the baby feet (?) on each side of his name.

What the heck is this thing?? Is it to carry change on his belt??



OOOHHH. Love's Babysoft. The ultimate choice for girl's in the 80's. Obviously a gift from some special young lady. I'm sure he remembers who, but he won't admit it. This stuff stunk brand new, I can only imagine what it smells like now.

Ok, now things are getting weird.
A grenade.

What did he want with a grenade?

Brass knuckles. Only these are made of wood. For the kinder, gentler thug.

Now, to round out his "vigilante in training" kit.... gloves with no fingertips and 'training' nunchucks. I am laughing now as I picture him using these. I bet he had some awesome moves....Love his initials burned into the ends of the handles, just in case they got confused with someone elses nunchucks.

The license plate from the front of his super awesome '68 Camaro.(Cujo? He liked killer dogs?) He still has the Camaro at his parents house. It must be lonely and sad without it's nameplate....

My all time favorite. I just about peed myself.




He SWEARS he didn't wear these. And I have to admit, the bottoms look brand new.




The tag inside the shoe is the best part.




They should have made their pledge to include "you will totally regret the decision to own these in 25 years".

I don't know why his mom saved this stuff, but I am sooooo glad she did.

Thanks again sweetie, for giving me a good laugh. You are an awesome, sophisticated man with excellent taste.

Some things just take time....







LittlebitsDesigns.com