A Little Sand & a Lot of Fun!

Hey Sweet Blogging Buddies,

My darling daughters are home and I am anxious to hear all about camp and get caught up on them. They LOVED their surprise makeovers...it was so fun to surprise them. Anyway, I'm taking some time off to enjoy my family. You know me, I can't stay away too long. I'll be popping in every now and then to get caught up and to get my blogging fix. I don't want to miss a thing that is going on with you. Please, don't forget about me. I'll be back soon!

Joyfully,

Kristi

I Have a New Love!

Have you tried this stuff? Oh, my merciful heavens...this stuff is incredible!

It's the perfect snack! My mom told me about it and I rushed right out to Walmart and bought 2 boxes...and I'm so glad that I did. Yummmmm!

Speaking of new loves, have you seen this video from Living Proof Live?

I agree with Boomama, you have to click here "it will make your whole day!"

I'm off to finish my yard work. Have a great weekend!

Joyfully,

Kristi

Goo Gone?

Thanks so much for all of your sweet comments about the surprise makeovers.

It was a blast and I can hardly wait to see their faces.

Keeping secrets is so hard!

Does anyone else have that problem?

(On Rachel's 2nd Christmas, Santa came on December 2nd 'cause this momma could not wait!)

Anyway, ya'll were sweet to comment about my hand painting so

I thought I would share my secret.

My inspiration for the painting came from an amazing blogger named Susie at Bienvenue.

Wow is she talented!

I started off with poster board, for Hannah's green circle

and then printed off words from my computer.

I used Microsoft Publisher to find the fonts that I liked

and then I just printed them out and cut them out.

Here is the blank wall that is just begging for some color:

And here is the start of the green circle. I used those cheap sponge brushes and then quickly changed to one of my favorite wide, flat paint brushes that I use for decorative painting.

My paint is that good old craft paint from Michaels or Hobby Lobby.





Then I used tracing paper to transfer the fonts (which didn't work as well as I had hoped...I free-handed a lot of this and all of the words on the girls' bathroom walls).

Notice anything in the above picture?

I thought I would freehand a little swirl underneath the picture....and that's when it all went wrong! The sides didn't match, so I just wiped the wet paint with a cloth and water because the paint was wet and it has always worked before. NOooooo not this time. Hello smeared paint!

What to do? I grabbed Goo Gone and hoped for a cure.

Goo Gone, you did disappoint. Here is the wall after Goo Gone:

Oh, yes that's much better! Not! I thought I would just cover it up with a poster...and then I thought again. I remembered an old can of paint in the attic that was left over from when we painted her room. Mr. Incredible was sure that a paint can that is 9 years old will not be usable but I persuaded him to try it. We shook the daylights out of that can and guess what??? It worked. Woo hoo!


Whew! That's better. Have a great weekend!

Joyfully,

Kristi

Girls Come Home! Your Surprise Makeovers are Done!

My Darling Daughters, come home from camp soon! I've been working ever so hard on your surprise room makeovers and I can hardly wait for you to see them!

Do you wanna see what I have been doing?

Okay, you can see the makeovers before my girls, but shhhh please, don't tell them!

This is Rachel's room:

She has always had this beautiful pink paint on her walls, she chose the color 9 years ago (wow how time flies!). Anyway, from little girl pink...to ever so chic!

Those are tall ceilings! With Rachel's new diagnosis this year (See Rachel's story in my index-regarding our journey as we learn to cope with Arnold Chiari I) she needs black out drapes so that she can sleep better at night. We love living in the country but the blessed moon can sure light up a room with these beautiful windows.

Here is my man braving the ladder to hang the drapes/curtains:

Someday, she would like to visit Paris and London. These pictures from Hobby Lobby were too perfect (and 50% off too!).

We purchased her bedding at Target (which is on sale this week too).

There is her photo board that I just made out of foam board (from Hobby Lobby) wrapped in thick white felt and then covered in material to match her bedding. I hot glued the ribbon and trim. Since I had some left over frames from my graduation gifts and some left over material, I quickly grabbed my left over Modge Podge and made a few frames (there are some in her bathroom too).


This is some more of my decorative painting (it's not perfect, especially if you enlarge it....did you? so you see it's not perfect...so we'll loosely call it art!)



We found this pink Christmas tree in Canton (hello Sunday House!) a few years ago and she likes to leave it out year around. I think it works pretty well right there.

A few more paris themed accessories (from the Hobby Lobby )

And the lamp shade and mirror I recovered with her matching fabric. Have I told ya'll how much I love my hot glue gun?


The extra frames in her bathroom. I got tickled when I realized I had put the material on one of her frames backwards. Oh, well...more art! :-)


Ready to see Hannah's room?



See the green circle with her name? Yes, I painted that too.
Again, it's not perfect but I like it anyway!


I love the purple and lime green against the yellow paint!

I made Hannah a photo board too. I wasn't quite sure what to do with the extra drapery pull back thingies 'cause I didn't plan to use them. They seemed kind of funky and fun on the message/photo board. Yes, I hot glued those too!

I also recovered her chair to match the zebra print.

My Grandpa made her furniture for me many, many years ago.

I love it that it now belongs to Hannah!

Here are a couple more scenes from her bathroom:

I covered this H with leftover scrapbook paper and Modge Podge:

These crosses use to be in Rachel's room (thanks Julie B) but she had already passed them on to her sister this year. I think they look great in Hannah's bathroom and they go great with her new colors!

Last picture in Hannah's room. I added some funky orange trim to this lamp shade. No, it's not matchy-matchy with the rest of her room...but that 's why I like it. It's fun, don't you think?

Whew! I need a nap. Thanks for stopping by. Have a blessed day in the Lord today!

Joyfully,

Kristi

Bathroom Beautification

(I am so pleased to join Kelly's bathroom tour today. I just adore this sweet sister in the Lord don't you? So, if you have come from Kelly's Korner, welcome! Please, stay a while. I am so blessed by your visit to my blog!)

I have been working away and enjoying every moment.

Yesterday, I showed you a lamp and photo board redo. Today, I'll give you another glimpse into what I have been working on.

I have always wanted to jazz up the girl's bathrooms but I just wasn't sure what to do, so it's kind of been on the back burner, so to speak.

I finally had an idea

(yes, thank you I know it is summer but I think

my brain has returned-and I'm so thankful)!

There has been a blank space between the mirrors and the ceiling

which was just perfect for a little scripture...a daily reminder to start the day with the Lord.

This is Hannah's bathroom wall:

And this is Rachel's bathroom wall:

The walls are not perfect, but they are fun and not boring any longer. The best part of this bathroom beautification project? It didn't cost a thing...only a little time and lots of prayer.

Well, I'm off to do some more redecorating. I'll try to post more updates tomorrow. You can click here and here for the latest updates.
What are you tackling today?

Joyfully,

Kristi

Guess What I'm Doing???

My girls are at youth camp this week (sigh). I miss them terribly! I love youth camp, don't get me wrong, this will be an incredible week with the Lord for them. But this momma likes it when her girls are home.

Hello time? Would you please stop moving so quickly!

When did my baby become old enough to go to youth camp with her sister?

I have a million things that I should be doing, but this is what I would rather be doing:

(It use to be bright orange)

Can you tell what I am doing?

Not yet? Okay, here is another hint:

From lime green and hot pink to this:



Oooh lala!

(Yes, it's a lamp shade)


And from little girl pink:

To a more sophisticated chic:

I'm sure you have guessed it by now! I am redoing my girl's bedrooms. They were given new bedding for their birthdays this spring. Rachel wanted a more grown up look (be still my heart) and Hannah wanted a more funky teen look and I wanted to do all of this on a budget. So, I'm recovering picture boards, lamp shades, and doing a little decorative painting.

Now that school is out (praise the Lord!) I have more time and it is soooooo much fun!

That's all of the sneak peeks that you get for today.

I'll be back for more tomorrow. Have a blessed day in the Lord today!

Joyfully,

Kristi

Doctor's Office Attire-Oiy!

Happy Friday to ya'll!

So, what do you wear when you go to your annual checkup?

Monday was Hannah's well check up appointment with our pediatrician.

Can I just say, that the doctor and I have a love/hate relationship. Can anyone relate?

Anyway, the pediatrician would not refill Hannah's allergy medication until we came for a well check up. That turkey! What normally takes months to get an appointment only took 3 days. Apparently he needs a new fence for his horse corral (just kidding...but aren't doctor's visits, especially well checks expensive?)

So, after taking 3 advil and downing a cup of my favorite coffee, we headed to the doctor's office for the normal 2 hour wait (What a relief to find that we only had to wait an hour and a half this time).

Anyway, the girls and I were having a great time visiting when I caught a glimpse of Hannah's t-shirt in my rear view mirror
(My children are 16 and 12...I don't dress them anymore...they know what is appropriate...or so I thought!)

Apparently, Hannah wasn't too thrilled about a well check either. Instead of reaching for advil and coffee, her sense of humor took over and she dressed herself in this:

Do you need a close up?

Oiy! Hello, Dr. well respected pediatrician, can you tell why we are here today?

I couldn't believe my eyes. Do you know Fred? He is all the rage with teenagers on Youtube. If you want to lose a couple hundred brain cells, check him out. And by the way, I didn't purchase this t-shirt for her. Her grandparents blessed her with some extra money and this is the treasure she chose to spend her money on. I blame them (I love you Mom & Dad!)

Where have the days gone when I use to worry that my daughters might blow out a diaper or heaven forbid have to nurse in the pediatrician's office? Welcome to the teenage years.


Note to self, check out what Hannah is wearing before driving to the doctor's office.
Her sense of humor was contagious with Rachel and I but not the pediatrician. He noticed the shirt but didn't think it was very funny and apparently he has never seen Fred. Keep up with the times Mr. fancy pants doctor...and while you are at it, please find your sense of humor because you are wearing me out with your seriousness!

For more Friday Funnies, please visit my friend Kim.
Have a great weekend!

Joyfully,

Kristi

Very Turtle-y

I heard the words, "Momma, come quick!"

And I thought to myself, "Oh, no! I wonder what's wrong."

Thankfully, all was well...we just had a visitor in the backyard.

We live on nearly 3 acres of land.

I have no idea where this little guy came from or how he got here.

He is tiny and he was scared.

Did you know turtles can scream when you try to pick them up? Me neither.
This one did and then he wet all over...nice!

Apparently after his huge journey, he was famished.

He took to the carrot like...well a famished turtle.


Let me go!

And off he went with the carrot.

Fast food to go...how very turtle-y!

Freebies from Sonic

Two posts in one day? Can you tell it is summertime?!

Our family adores "The Sonic." They have ice like no other.

Anyway, I just wanted you to know that

tonight is free Rootbeer Float night from 8 until midnight at participating Sonics.

So pack up the car and go get one! We'll see you there (after VBS of course).

P.S. Wipeout is on television tonight. Have you seen it??? Oh, the big balls just crack me up. So, for a good laugh tune in. It is hilarious! A free rootbeer float and Wipeout...a great combination!

A Bus Full of Blessing!

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14.

Oh, how I love my daughters. They are such a blessing, in many more ways than I could ever express. They thrill my heart like no others. When Rachel was blessed to be a part of Mission Arlington last summer, she came home with a heart for missions.

With the help of her youth minister and youth group they started an apartment ministry that is near our church. A couple of Sunday nights each month the students lead Bible studies, games, crafts, recreation, and snack time. Lately, we have been using the Elevate materials that I use in our 1st and 2nd grade children's worship time. Our theme has been superheroes and the children have loved it.

With this being Vacation Bible School week, Rachel and Hannah wanted the apartment kids to come. Two weeks ago they passed out flyers, they covered the apartments one more time last Saturday and then the church bus, driven by my dad, with my girls joyfully drove to the apartment complex where 8 happy children were waiting to hop aboard. Last night we picked up 14 and we are excited about having more come tonight.

Nothing thrills this Momma's heart more than seeing my daughters be a part of what God is doing! They love these children...and these children love my daughters. Monday night, one of the girls hugged me just because I was Rachel's mom. Isn't that sweet?

These precious children are learning Truth this week and they bring so much joy and delight.

I was tickled Monday evening when we were taking them back to the apartments. I asked the girls in the back of the bus what their favorite part of the evening was.

One of the girls sweetly replied that she really enjoyed the story of Joseph and his brothers and that even though they treated him badly, Joseph was still respectful of his brother and that we should be respectful to our mom and dad and brother and friends....and then she said loudly, "Stop it butt-head!" to one of her friends that was pestering her. Oiy!

Joyfully,

Kristi

Please visit here for more Word Filled Wednesday inspirations.

Great Graduation Gifts for a Bargain

It's that wonderful time of the year where graduation announcements fill my mailbox and I begin to wonder what can I possibly give this student to celebrate their accomplishments without breaking the bank.

During my conference period I headed for Michaels, because well... I love Hobby Lobby...but when I only have 10 minutes to spare, Michaels fits the bill.

I quickly found these frames for $1.00 each.

...and then I found this scrapbooking paper and small wooden circles...my mind was reeling.

OOOH and ribbon to match (I adore ribbon)


On my lunch hour I painted the edges black.


Cut the paper to fit the framed opening...


and then had fun using Modge Podge to attach the paper to the wooden frames.

I covered the wooden circles with paper too and painted their minute edges as well.

I slathered on Modge Podge to the tops 2 more times and let it dry.



By the time school was over for the day, these little frames were dry and in need of some adornment. I hot glued (I heart my hot glue gun so much-we have finished many a project together and it has always served me well) the ribbon and the wooden circles and Voila!

Here are the finished frames...which were less than $3.00 each.


The special part was having the privilege of praying for the recipients as I crafted each frame.

And speaking of graduates....here is "V" on his high school graduation with our daughter Rachel who helped tutor him in Algebra II. Thank you for praying for "V."

Joyfully,

Kristi

What projects are you tackling today?