cake plate love

When the kids are away, the mommy will play...

While the kids were spring breaking, I was getting into spring (and trying not to break anything...)

I "made" this Cake Plate Set.  Upcycled, DIY'ed you know, not made, made, but made...
Anyway, it was fun me time.

Manly Bag

 I pack my hubby lunch most days.

But, apparently he doesn't love the purple and green bag he totes to work.  

Aw, come on!  Why not?  What's wrong with that?

Well, today, I thought I'd craft a simple manly lunch bag for him.

I added buckles and snaps and would have attached elk ivory, deer antlers and porcupine quills  somehow if I had them.

Next bag I guess...

Charity

 Happy Birthday (Yesterday) Relief Society!

This is part of the Inspirational Message I'm giving tonight at our Ward's R.S. B-day Party.

“I consider charity—or ‘the pure love of Christ’—to be the opposite of criticism and judging.” Thomas S. Monson

"Charity manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient.  Charity impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and merciful, not only in times of sickness and affliction and distress but also in times of weakness or error on the part of other. True Charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere.”    Thomas S. Monson

"Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down.  It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily.  It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings.  It is accepting people as they truly are.  It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time.  It is resisting the impulse to categorize others.” Thomas S. Monson

I took my inspiration from Daughters In My Kingdom: The History of the Relief Society Chapter 6 A Worldwide Circle of Sisterhood.

Happy birthday Relief Society.  Thanks for everything everywhere. 

Strawberry Crisp

For the two of you who wanted the recipe to this delicious Strawberry Crisp, I give you--- 

Fruit Crisp:

Cedar Chest Makeover--Chapter 6

So do you know when something is just not working, but you have an idea in your head and even though your kids poo poo the whole thing you just know hope and pray it's gonna turn out like you see it in your mind?

yeah, me too...

Cedar Chest Makeover Chapter 5 (technically)-attaching the legs

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the technology.

We can make it better than it was before.

It's the six dollar (a leg)....

Bionic Cedar Chest!

*cue bionic sounds*

Cedar Chest Makeover-Chapter...What chapter am I on?

I know I've stated before on this little blog how "frugal" I am.  Well, I hate to spend money unless it's necessary.  I was thinking about it the other day and realized that even if I had loads of the green stuff, ya know, like a money tree growing out back, I still would only spend as little as I had to and give the rest to OURRESCUE or some worthwhile non-profit like that.  (Seriously. If I had a million dollars...)

ANYway...

I found the legs I wanted for the chest makeover back when I started it and they were six dollars and some change EACH and so I just put them in the "shopping cart" and kept searching, well when I realized that they were the only legs that would do, I went back to my shopping cart and I was notified that the price jumped up to $11 and change EACH!  So I said nay nay nay nay never mind, I'm not going to spend more on the legs than I did on the chest initially. So I kept on looking.

*cue hold music*

Well, a few days ago, I found them again for the six and change price and I ordered them! Phew! And the little brackets too. Which I'm still waiting on. But look at these beautiful curvy legs...

Yes, they are painted a dark brown, yes I am going to have to make some changes and no I'm not sure exactly how to proceed, but I'm sure going to have fun figuring it out!

Camera Showdown

It's a camera showdown.

My LG Flex 13 mpxl camera vs. Nikon D3200 24.2 mpxl (new expensive) camera...

Can you tell which is which?

Flowers courtesy of my hubby courtesy of my terrible, horrible, very bad day three days ago.

Is it live, or is it Memorex?

Art and Creativity

ART WOUNDS

“Unused creativity is dangerous.  It changes into things.”

“There is nothing that will bring grown people to their tears like a box of crayons.”

“85% of the men and women I’ve interviewed over 13 years remember something so shaming that happened in school that it changed how they thought of themselves as learners. 50% of those wounds were around art and creativity.”

“Stop grading art in school.”

Brene Brown

Still watching Brene Brown on youtube and the words coming out of her mouth are going straight to my heart.

One of the reasons I bake bread, and cook food for my family from scratch and make diaper bags and patch jeans and buy dishes and live on Pinterest is because I love the creative process.  

We as women by nature create.  So do men.  My hubby is one of the most creative people I know.  My dad can fix anything and make something from nothing.  My older brother is an amazing drafter and artist and his best friend Chris and his dad Tony were and are amazing artists too.  My SIL reports that her hubby, my baby brother can make something from nothing just like our dad.  My son loves to cook and create too, but is frustrated that he isn't as good of an artist as his older sister who can see something and draw it (and who can also hear a song like twice and know it).  

I love art.  My secret desire is to have an easel, tubes of paint, brushes and just create masterpieces. I love art in all ways.  Food, sunsets, drawing, dancing, singing, playing music... etc. 

Here's my new vehicle for art in our home...

I'ts a camera if you didn't figure that out.

I haven't taken it out of the box(es) yet.

I'm still wrestling with myself about whether or not I "need" it.  

Need vs. Want

I do have a need to create though so I guess I'm done wrestling.

*tap out*

Vulnerability TED!

Brene Brown

 has studied shame and vulnerability for years. I love her insight...