Wordless Wednesday
I know that today’s post is supposed to include photos of some sort….years past at the daffodil festival on Wye Mountain….but let’s be honest. I’ve barely found my shoes since we’ve moved, much less my external hard drive with ALL of my photos.
So instead, I give you something different. Aaron and I sing a song to Nate every night before he goes to sleep. They range from Darth Vader’s theme to Jingle Bells and Row Your Boat. But his favorites are Water is Wide, Sweet Baby James and Oh My Sweet Carolina. I’ve linked them for you…enjoy.
Knock Off Wood
Photo from Knock Off Wood
Have you found yourself thumbing through a Pottery Barn or West Elm catalog, longing for the thousands it would take to outfit your home in their chic, classic, simple and sturdy furniture?
So did Ana White, a stay at home mom in Alaska who was expecting her first child and needed to furnish the home her and her husband just built on their own dime and time. Her major was in Computer Science, but her heart was in the workshop with table saws and piles of scrap wood. So she started making furniture from the scrap wood leftover from building their home, like that bed in the picture. For real, she did it! It was the first piece she made, and she says it’s her favorite. Inspired yet?
Flash forward, and Ana has created a GREAT website called Knock Off Wood where she creates plans that you, yes YOU, can use to build Pottery Barn and other originals with your own hands for hundreds, even thousands, less! In her detailed plans are shopping lists, color-coded pictures, and easy to follow instructions. If you can read, and have a few tools, you can build furniture. Really!
She has quite the following, with a Bragging Board on Flickr that her fans use to post pictures of their own Knock Offs…and there are some talented moms out there who had NO CLUE they were carpenters! She even has a section where you can request plans for a piece you’ve had your eye on.
So I’m curious….how many of you will be inspired to make something yourself, and who will brave the shop and do it on your own?
PS…I will be off the radar for a few days, getting moved and settled into the new place. I hope to be back on line by Wednesday or so. Wish us luck with our move!
Tags: furniture
Wordless Wednesday
For today, a photo homage to our “old house”….we wiil move to a larger abode this weekend. This was the only house Nate has ever known, and we lived here the longest in our relationship at 4 years and 6 months. Cindy pointed out that I’ve lived in 3 houses since we’ve known each other. And that’s only been for 5 years.
Aaron put hundreds thousands of hours of work into this house. It looks great now…go to the Flickr set to look at the end result.
When we moved in, August 2005....the weekend Katrina hit NOLA.
We put 80% of our stuff in the back room, and slept on a daybed, for a few weeks while we had the floors done.
Aaron hard at work clearing bushes and trimming tress in the backyard.
Turning the old lean to shed into the office/laundry closet
My first real garden! Summer 2008
Aaron painting the kitchen right after we moved in...can you tell he was happy about it?
Building the deck...Aaron took apart our neighbor's old deck in exchange for the wood.
Lisa's fig tree next door...I will miss it, and Lisa!
A built these beautiful bookcases from scratch
I will miss that porch swing
Drawing on the deck
The ever present boots
For more Wordless Wednesdays, go to Arkie Mama.
Tags: wordless wednesday
Eat like the Irish
Photo from Food Network
Last year on St Patrick’s Day I made my first Corned Beef, and I have to admit it was pretty darn tasty! I decided to continue the tradition this year.
Food Network has come up with five different recipes for corned beef….their slower-cooker version sounds wonderful, as does the hash you can make with the leftovers.
I’ve also read a lot about people and their green meals….imagine a green buffet of salad, broccoli, asparagus, apples, and avocado to name a few. Maybe some green eggs and ham would be in order?
So what’s on your plate for St. Patty’s this year?
Tags: food, holidays, st.patricks
Bento Monday
Love the dollar section at Target!
One of the key accessories for bento making are silicone cupcakes molds. As I am super cheap, I have refrained from purchasing them at Michael’s or the Container Store, even with coupons.
As I roamed the dollar isles at Target on Wednesday, I found a six pack of baking cups for a buck! Yippee!
Honestly, they seem pretty flimsy for baking, but who cares about that…I just want to separate my saucy and loose food in the bentos!
I added some pictures to my Flickr set with my new purchase. They make a huge difference in keeping your bento nice and tidy. Run out to Target and get some TODAY!
Tags: bento
Donna Downey at Scrapbook Corner
Photo from one of Donna's workshops to be taught at Scrapbook Corner
If I could ask God for a favor, just a small request….I would ask for one-tenth of the talent, imagination, motivation, skill and/or life force of Donna Downey.
Never heard of her? If you are not a scrapbook maven or rafter, I’m not surprised. But if you scrap or craft, no doubt you’ve seen her column in Simply Scrapbooks, been uber-inspired by her blog, or sat in awe while looking through her galleries and shops on website.
Donna is the type of scrapper/crafter I yearn to be: a true mixed media artist, manipulating paper, paint, ink and photos into albums, 3-D art and whatever else pops into that wonderful head of hers. I know I’m talented on some levels, but this lady takes the cake.
Well, anyway, the reason why I’m telling you this is because DONNA IS GOING TO BE IN LITTLE ROCK!!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!
She will be at Scrapbook Corner April 30-May 1 to teach four different workshops. You can see workshop descriptions and photos on their blog. Deadline to sign up for the classes is April 15. I hope to see some of you there!
Tags: art, crafts, paint, photography, preserving, scrapbook
Looking for a cheap date?
Me too! I’ve got a project that I’m working on, and I need to compile a list of cheap, free, fun, romantic or not date ideas. I’m mostly looking for ideas for couples, but if you have a great idea for a family “date” I’ll take that too. They don’t have to be in Little Rock, I’m open to ideas from all over the state! Send me your thoughts and I’ll post them for us all to share.
Here’s a list to get you started, courtesy of How Does She? :
1.Go out for pizza
2.Try live entertainment, such as a band at a local bar or restaurant, instead of a movie.
3.Pick a TV show, get a season’s worth on DVD and make a running date to watch it together every night. (we did this with The Office and Lost)
4.Head out to the dollar theater and splurge on snacks.
5.Try brunch and a matinee; fancy restaurants are way more affordable in the a.m.
6.Pick up a bucket of fried chicken and head for the drive-in.
7.Dress up your backyard picnic table with a white tablecloth. Add candles, fancy cheese, chocolate and voila: five-star fun!
8. Too cold or wet for an outdoor picnic? Spread a blanket on the floor and have a carpet picnic. (we do this when we eat pizza with the kids!)
9. Bring home your favorite fast food, but serve it on your best china.
10. Museums usually have one free night a week or month, so hit one then.
11. Find a happy hour half off appetizers and order a few for your dinner!
12. Take a sketchpad to a scenic bluff and draw your own version of the vista.
13. Grab a basketball and hit the free courts at the park.
14. Sample international food at a street fair.
15. Hit the local video arcade.
16. Go to the library and page through the coffee-table art books, or any books!
17. Suit up and spend a late afternoon at the indoor pool of the Y.
18. Head to the highest point in town. Spend an early evening watching the twinkling lights turn on.
19 Drive out to a country field, lie down and snuggle under the stars.
20. Make yourselves the biggest, craziest ice cream sundae ever.
21. Take a tour of the house you’d (someday) love to own.
22.Paint coffee mugs at a paint-your-own-pottery place.
23. Sign up for a one-night class at your local college.
24. Hit a farmers’ market and scavenge for your dinner.
25. Take a tour of garage sales in the ritziest neighborhoods.
26. Head to an ice skating rink and strap on skates for some icy fun.
27. Book a double massage at a spa.
28. Take a balloon or helicopter ride over your town.
29. Rent a fancy car. Tool around as if you actually own it.
30. Find a nearby bed-and-breakfast. Spend the night someplace where someone else makes the bed and cooks breakfast.
Tags: family
On making a mess…everyday art
From the Eric Carle blog
I have always loved Eric Carle. I’m not being trivial…since I was a little girl, like 4 or 5, I’ve loved The Hungry Caterpillar and his other books for their vibrant color and wonderful texture that is trademark Carle.
Click on the photo to read his post about everyday art and making a mess.
Wordless Wednesday
Nate waiting for his first soccer practice this past Saturday.
For more Wordless Wednesdays, kick it on over to Arkie Mama.
Tags: wordless wednesday
St. Patrick’s Day crafts
St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, so I’ve done a bit of looking for some craft projects for you and your family. Click on each photo to go to the website or tutorial.
As usual, tons of tutorials on Kaboose.com
Lots more St. Patrick's Day fun at Skip To My Lou
"Lucky" banner tutorial from Redberry Barn
A leprechan comes to visit at Little Birdie Secrets
Tags: crafts, holidays, kiddo, paint, st.patricks
