Crafting Together...

Saturday I decided that Lilley-Kate and I would have a "craft day" together... I had purchased Stepping Stone kits earlier in the season and thought it would be the perfect "before school starts" project... I set up a table in the shade under our big tree out back... and got to crafting...

I was able to "drag" Michael out of the garage... he's working on another "secret project" (could I be getting ANOTHER CUTE PATIO TABLE???)... to do the "dirty work" and mix the mortar...

And pour it into the molds for us... he's such a GREAT DADDY... after which he promptly disappeared back into the garage... and left us girls to our crafting...

We had LOTS of colorful glass bits to work with... the sun was shining through the trees on the glass and Lilley-Kate couldn't make up her mind which color was her favorite...

A butterfly stepping stone for Lilley-Kate... her favorite... and a flower for me... as we were setting the stones we listened to music and chatted about being in FIRST GRADE (she's VERY EXCITED)... favorite FLOWERS (Daisies for both of us)... BIRDS (her's CARDINAL, mine Chickadee)... FAVORITE FOODS (her's Mac and Cheese, mine pizza)... FAVORITE COLORS (her's Pink and sometimes purple, mine pink and sometimes red)... BALLET (she LOVES it)... come to think of it... we chatted about almost everything... and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT...

It was a fun afternoon spent with my FAVORITE GIRL...

Hi Ho... Hi Ho...

It's "off to school" Nick goes... is it POSSIBLE that I have a kid who is a JUNIOR in COLLEGE??? They grow up WAY TOO FAST!!!...

My "camera shy" child was "kind enough" to allow a couple of few pictures to be snapped with Lilley-Kate over the weekend...

We'll miss having Nick around here on a daily basis... but I'm sure he'll be back soon... as soon as his Laundry bag gets full... :o)

Repurposed and Recycled...

Our next door neighbor had made some SUPER CUTE outdoor tables for their patio... I kept admiring them... EVERY TIME we were outside... the other day Michael shut himself up in the garage and the next thing I knew I had a cute table for OUR PATIO (which will be rebricked next Summer)... he used the leftover shelving/wood from THIS PROJECT... I love the little table... and am NOW admiring the other THREE on our neighbors patio...

Fun At The Fair...

Michael came home early from work one day last week and surprised Lilley-Kate with a trip to our County Fair... she was SO EXCITED!

All she wanted to do was ride the FERRIS WHEEL...

It gave a nice overhead view of the Fairgrounds...


Another favorite was sliding down the GIANT SLIDE...

And getting to visit the 4-H Animals in the Barns... (the Bunnies were a Favorite)...

Had to ride some rides too!!!...

And get harnessed up for some Jumbo Jumping Thing...

And ended the visit with a ride on the MERRY GO ROUND...

It was Lilley-Kate's first visit to the fair... she had a GREAT time and is already looking forward to next year!

Everything Old is New Again...

With a couple of cans of spraypaint... the vintage WHITE patio set (that I picked up a couple of YEARS ago at an auction) gets a makeover... Another project crossed off THE LIST!!!

Forward Progress...

At the beginning of Summer vacation Michael removed the training wheels off of Lilley-Kate's bike... she hasn't ridden it the entire Summer... until after MUCH CONVINCING that FIRST-GRADERS ride bikes WITHOUT TRAINING WHEELS... she was RELUCTANTLY willing to give it a go...

She must have sat there for 5 solid minutes... "Ready"... "No... not yet"... "Ready yet?"... "Almost but not yet"...
Finally... she's off!!! "PEDAL.... PEDAL... PEEEEEDAAAAAL..." I think she was so intend on sitting up straight that she didn't even think to pedal... LOL

She DID remember to pedal just as she was slowing down... Michael convinced her to two more attempts... after which she announced that she didn't think ALL FIRST GRADERS rode without TRAINING WHEELS...

We'll keep practicing...

Wanna Win Somthin'???

Get on over to VINTAGE CHIC and enter to win!!! Contest entries are accepted until August 18th!!!

Tent Time...

When I saw this FUN Tent Tutorial I KNEW Lilley-Kate would LOVE to have one of her own... So Friday Night Michael and I got the canvas cut and ready for stamping on Saturday morning...

I bought compressed sponges and we cut out some favorite shapes to stamp with (butterflies, flowers, hearts, ladybugs and polka dots) and we spent most of Saturday morning stamping the canvas out on our driveway... It dried pretty quickly with the sun out...

Michael had never "grommeted" before... I think he has found a new hobby! He followed the placement measurements in the tutorial and the directions (which I INSISTED he read) on the back of the package...

Then we set up the bamboo poles in the back yard... Lilley-Kate started to get excited at this point once the tent took "shape"...

Michael then fit the stamped canvas over the bamboo poles and laced up the front (and happened to mention like 50 times how fabulous the grommet work looked... yes Michael... you did a GOOD JOB)...

I added "streamers" as suggested in the tutorial... which Lilley-Kate LOVED... and TAH-DAH... Lilley-Kate's Tent was done!

The Tent was a fun project... and the tutorial (which we referred to NUMEROUS TIMES) came in handy... I/We would DEFINITELY recommend this project!!!

***Michael wanted me to mention that the measurements for cutting the half-circle won't give you an "exact square" and that you will have to fandangle the folding part at the BOTTOM before cutting... "square" the top point and cut the smaller half -circle and then "square" the bottom point and cut the bigger half circle... OH... And I'm suppose to mention too that the GROMMETING was a breeze... LOL***

IRRITATED... Sellers BEWARE...

UGH... I'm so IRRITATED (more than my NORMAL irritated state... LOL)... at myself mostly... funny... because WHAT is irritating me is really due to the fact that I DIDN'T follow my own "Business Policy"... and now I am nervous...

So... I sell on eBay... and have been for about 4 1/2 years... and overall have had a TOTALLY POSITIVE experience... I even met two of my BESTEST FRIENDS in the WHOLE WORLD through eBay!

My last auction cycle went smoothly... nothing "unusual" happened... I did have a prospective BUYER e-mail me about reduced/combined shipping (which isn't unusual)... I replied and stated that I would be happy to combine/reduce shipping once the auctions were over...

Auctions ended and I combined shipping... (giving her FREE SHIPPING on 2 items)... only to receive a "reply" to the invoice saying SHE thinks she should pay THIS AMOUNT for shipping and once I reinvoice her she will pay...

Here's where I am irritated... the auctions ended LATE last night... so I couldn't "check her out" before the auctions ended... TYPICALLY once I get a bid... I go in a check the feedback of that bidder AND the feedback they leave for others...

WELL... AFTER she e-mails me and says she should pay THIS AMOUNT for shipping I go and "check her out"... yea... the last FOUR feedbacks she has left have been NEGATIVES (for the sellers)... and the SELLERS responses have been "Buyer has history of buying and then asking for cheaper shipping"... UGH... NOT GOOD...

So... for those of you that MIGHT sell on eBay... TRY TRY TRY to "check out" your prospective BUYERS BEFORE AN AUCTION ENDS... that way you have the option of cancelling their bid... And be aware that the SELLER sets the terms of an auction... NOT the BUYER...

I reinvoiced her... after determining that I could offer her cheaper shipping (according to the PO website)... and am just going to have to keep my fingers crossed... Meanwhile adding her to the "FREAKS AND GEEKS" list (blocked bidders)...

But I'm STILL IRRITATED...

A Disappearing Act...

Living in an older home has its drawbacks... wierd nooks and crannies that really serve no purpose... as was the case with this built in located in a corner of the Living Room... well... now you see it...





Now you DON'T... The project was DONE over a weekend back in JUNE... but COMPLETED when the floor moulding was nailed in place this past weekend ... :o)

An Ongoing "Debate"...

The difference between something being DONE... and said something being COMPLETED...

Michael takes the stance that there is no difference...

I take the stance that there IS a difference...

The "debate" continues...

It SEEMS Like Just Yesterday...

We welcomed you into the world...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICK!!! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

A BIG EVENT...

After wiggling... and wiggling... AND WIGGLING... and not eating yesterday (because she was afraid food would hurt her "wigglie teeth") Lilley-Kate lost her TWO BOTTOM TEETH last night!!!

The Tooth Fairy delayed her visit so that Lilley-Kate could show her friend Kylee her teeth... but TONIGHT she got her letter/drawing and "present" (the missing teeth) all ready to leave for the Tooth Fairy...

She was VERY EXCITED tonight before bed...

My little girl is growing up!!!

Sweet Dreams Lilley-Kate!!! The Tooth Fairy is on her way!!!

Channeling "AUDREY"...

OK... I admit... I was lookin' pretty dang CUTE today... wearing my FAVORITE dress with little black flats... hair having just the perfect "pouff" at the crown... perfectly lined lips... and my trusty "celebrity" shades... I mean I felt DANG CUTE today... and I MUST have been... because while out and about today... TWO COMPLETE strangers complimented me on my outfit and ONE complimented me on my HAIR!!! Like I said... I was looking DANG CUTE!

Fashionably Late...

We were THRILLED yeaterday to FINALLY receive some visitors to the garden...

Much anticipated... and better late than never!!!

It's a ZOO Out There...

We woke up this morning and decided to head into the city to visit the ZOO and AQUARIUM...


The Aquarium was an underwater wonderland... we liked the jellyfish the best...

And this Ritzie dressed gentleman standing guard...

The Polar Bears made us smile... and we knew Papa would love to see a picture of HIS FAVORITE animal...

The flowers were a favorite too... LOTS of butterflies and pretty blooms...

And the seals kept us entertained with their antics...

We carefully followed the map... and continued through to the Zoo...

And saw some "Recycled" Art...

And a snoozing Tiger...

And a "young" elephant" (who was throwing dust on himself to keep cool... this made ALL the kiddies laugh)...

And finally... we visited the "Ape Habitat"... as we came upon the gorillas... Lilley-Kate said "he looks like a real man"...

We had a fun day and enjoyed all the animals!!!

It's the LITTLE THINGS...

Isn't it FUNNY how it is the LITTLE THINGS that can get us the most excited... I received a little package today from one of my BEST GIRLIEFRIENDS today in the mail... she knows me TOO WELL... THANKS CHICKIE!!! From one SHARPIE LOVER to another!!!