I just started this e-course, and I just have to say it is making me so happy. The nerd in me is loving it because it is like school, and I crazy loved school. I love to learn and I really love homework.
One would think that I would take my love for learning and put some energy into furthering my career as a nurse, but I have to tell you, I am just not interested at this time.
I am craving being creative, and why not use my blog as the template.
So I sit here this morning watching The Red Planet thinking…
Val Kilmer used to be really HOT, and….I love Pinterest.
The first part of the course has me finding my design style, and I have been perusing through all of my Pinterest boards to find it.
There have been tons and tons of Easter egg decorating ideas all over Pinterest these past few weeks.
While I love a good decorated egg, I did not need any decorated eggs.
I need knobs.
I have a dresser in the entry way that has been needing new knobs for about 6 months. I went to all the hardware stores, Hobby Lobby, World Market etc, but nothing really jumped out at me. I wanted something inexpensive that if I decided to change would not create a huge place of guilt in me for paying a a ton of dinero. So one day I was walking through Walmart and found plain round wood knobs that I could paint.
Sweet.
Those colors make my heart sing. My dresser is a mint green, so I thought these would be perfect. At first I was going to go with black and white, but since that was my color choice for the dining room I went with these above.
I am giddy.
Once the color was on, I decided to add a pattern. I first tried a star, but it was not clean enough so I went with my second favorite thing to doodle….stripes.
I just used some white indoor latex for the stripes. While I could have used tape to give it clean lines, I was not in the mood for this project to take all day so I just painted the stripes right on. I am a rebel.
Ten are painted and I have ten more to go. Then to seal and grab a screwdriver.
Not too bad for something that only took me about 20-30 minutes to do.
Of course, I had an assistant.
Once she saw the paints come out, it was on.
Speaking of eggs, we get eggs from Mr. Kells dad who has chickens. They are too cool looking for me to color.
I have 5 old domino magazines from long ago, and I love sitting in my closet looking through them. I pretty much have the pages memorized. It was such a good magazine.
I have said it before, bendy straws rock. How can you not get giddy and smile when you get one? I ask you how?
A Starbucks decaf caramel macchiato is my go to drink. I like to think I am Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail.
I just bought a few more throw pillows to add to my collection in the living room. I decided to add ones to mix and match, instead of buying all new pillows.
TOMS really needs to restock these shoes. I must have them. I am fixing to make a super purchase. Four pairs of TOMS. I cannot wait to see which ones my girls pick out.
I love a good canvas tote. I really like all the hand painted ones I have been seeing on other blogs and Pinterest. You cannot go wrong with Napoleon. Watching him dance just makes me happy. It can make me smile when I am having a crappy day. That, and getting a nice tasty bass.
My only real goal this year is to take care of me. As a nurse I get paid to take care of others. As a mother and a wife, I take care of my children and my husband. I tend to forget about me.
So, in honor of me….
via countryliving.com
via bhg.com
1. I want to create a grown up bedroom and dining room. I found out this Christmas that I like to entertain. Now I need a dining area to do this. The master bedroom has always been a mismatch in out home. Not anymore.
via cookingandme.com
2. I want to bake. I ultimately want to master my mother’s Swedish sugar cookie recipe. I have never to this day tasted a sugar cookie like it.
via kalbarteski.bigcartel.com
3. I am going to actually make some of the art I pin on Pinterest.
via flikr (whereyourheartis)
4. I am going to paint something salsa in my house. I think it is a lovely color!
5. I am going to take pictures of my family every day.
As I sit here eating a candy bar, waiting to go to my daughter’s Halloween party at school, I have been going through Pinterest looking for Christmas decorating ideas. Yes, I said Christmas. I am the gal that when Fall comes around, I go straight to Christmas. It is my holiday.
New House, new ideas, and I am so excited. It is exactly what I need to get me out of a funk. That, and I found another great knitting pattern for some quick knit scarves for gifts. I love shopping for yarn. So, if you know me, and I usually get you a gift, please know that it will have been made with some yarn and needles.
Last year I went crazy with Christmas trees. This year it is going to be garland. I have so many places to hang them. Plus they can be an inexpensive way to decorate. You can find more garland ideas here.
via prettyshinysparkly.com
Last, but certainly not least, there will most certainly be fake glittered fruit in my home. Who am I kidding. I will probably try to glitter everything!
Have you started thinking about Christmas? I think it is like 8 weeks away.
How do you explain to someone that if you turn your life over to God that amazing and wonderful things can happen for you? I never want to be afraid or feel bad about expressing what God has done for me. I never want to not talk about God, because I think it may “bother” someone. It is the one subject I want to talk about, whenever I can. I love hearing people talk about how God has come into their lives and changed it for the better. I know people who think believing in God is enough. It is not. You have to be willing to hand it all over to Him, and let him have control, and know that He has your best interest in mind. For me, it is the only reason I can get through the day.
I always want my girls to know how awesome they are. I always want them to find excitement and happiness in the little things. I never want them to think that have to have what they think is the “best” to be happy. I never want to be a mother obsessed with how my children are perceived by their peers. The truth is, I have never really cared much about what people have thought of me. I do not mean this in a bitchy sort of way. I am who I am, and I have always been happy with who that is. I always want my girls to be happy with who they are.
I also want them to know this…
via pinterest.com (no source)
I want to be an Iron Mommy!
There was a really mean mirror at Walmart the other day. It made me sad for a few minutes, till I passed a really nice mirror. Moral of the story. Find a mirror that totally lies to you. Just kidding….
Seriously, I am setting a goal for myself. I am going to start training for a 5k in the Spring. I am going to sign up and pay for it. That way, I will have to run. I hate wasting money.
I am going to attempt to get Mr. Kell involved. I would really love to do this with him!
Sounds like is is time for a little Couch to 5k.
Now, I will bore you with some books, music, and things I found on Pinterest.
I am not a literary critic. I do not know how to critique a book like a professional. All I have to say is I really liked this book. I felt happy after I read it. For me, that is all that is important when I read a book.
via amazon.com
This is what I am reading now. I was intrigued after I watched the american version of the movie. I have always wanted to be a bad ass chick with some crazy awesome skill. I have also always wanted to be super intelligent. Like find a cure smart. I would like to report that the Swedish version of the movie was better.
The Jackson 5 have nothing on the version of this song.
I read yesterday that McSteamy will not be returning to Grey’s Anatomy next season. This means that he can die and Lexie and Mark can walk into heaven hand and hand together. Just like it was meant to be.
I have been looking through Pinterest for some dinner ideas, and here are a few that have caught my eye.
via bhg.com
Fish and green beans with Wasabi mayonnaise. You can find the recipe here.
via bhg.com
My girls love when Mr. Kell or I cut up veggies and serve them on a platter. Adding some chicken would give it a little extra goodness. This is a Buffalo Chicken Cobb salad from Better Homes And Gardens. What would I do without them?
via healthy-delicious.com
These are Baked Chicken and Spinach Flautas. I cannot get my girls to eat enchiladas, so maybe if it is something they can pick up I will give it a try. You can find the recipe here.
Besides Pinterest, I like to go to another site called Craftgawker. It is a site where I can find all kinds of craftiness. I found a great craft for my girls and I today.
via lisastorms.typepad.com
It is a frame wrapped in strips of craft paper. I found some inexpensive frames from Ikea while unpacking, and have a ton of paper. I think it will be a cute addition to the girls rooms. You can find the tutorial here.
Since all I have to do today is laundry, I may try to make this.
via thegildedhare.com
Another cute bracelet to make with embroidery floss. You can find the tutorial here.
Decorating the the new house is taking longer than I would prefer. So, I am taking baby steps, and pinning.
This is my mantle in the living room. I like the recessed wall and the arch.
Mr. Kell and I have come to an agreement that there should be an animal head hanging above the fireplace. Not one that has been shot and stuffed, one more my style.
I am thinking something like this.
via cardboardsafari.com
After that, I have no idea what I want to do.
I am so fickle when it comes to decorating. I will start out with an idea, and change it fifty times before I finally buy something. This is the number one reason why nothing ever gets done in my life.
Now, thanks to Pinterest, and looking through some blogs, I have a few ideas.
1. Is there a right or wrong way? How should I decorate my mantle so it is pleasing to the eye?
I have this thing for candle sticks. I love the different heights and textures. I love the idea of mix matched candle holders of different heights lining the mantle. Funky, yet clean and light.
3. I love art.
via bhg.com
Having a large piece of art as a focal point is a great idea. It takes up most of the space, so all I would have to do is had a few odds and ends. Not to mention it draws you eye up the wall making the seem higher. Too bad the one piece of art I have is too large for the space.
3. I love a funky mirror.
via apartmenttherapy.com
A large mirror and a few pieces make this mantle pop. It is absolutely gorgeous along with the whole space.
Today was the first day I actually sat down with my girls to work on some math and reading. Now it is time to sit down and plan some crafts for the rest of the summer.
Since I am the mommy of three girls, I wanted to start with a craft that my girls can wear.
Who am I kidding… I want to wear them too.
My jewelry regimen consists of earrings and a wedding band, and I thought I would expands my horizons a little bit.
I chose bracelets.
via lilblueboo.com
I crochet and knit, but I have never finger crocheted. This will be too much fun. Click here for the tutorial.
via lilblueboo
Wrap bracelets are all the rage, and this tutorial looks the easiest out of all that I have seen.
via honestlywtf
These are great, but probably a little to difficult for my girls.
I will save this craft for a craft date with my friend Marni!
I think this will be a good place to start with my girls. Their attention span is not the best.
This week has been a blur. I am in disbelief that it is actually Friday.
In a couple of hours, I will be attempting Zumba for the first time. Who Zumbas out there? Personally, I cannot wait to shake what my momma gave me. Actually not my mom, it would be my German grandmother. She must have had a rump shaker.
I was J.Lo, when J.Lo wasn’t cool.
Get it?
Who doesn’t love some Barbara Mandrell?
I digress.
I bought a few things this week.
My New Car!
Some damage may have been done here. I bought my little bit a cute pink and grey striped dress. I bought myself some knit skirts and t-shirts. I thought I would buy my summer wardrobe now.
I cannot wait to wear this skirt.
First, I need to invest in some tanning lotion.
I think my favorite purchase of the week was this.
It’s my coffee mug from Target. It is fabulous. I have a dream of having a ton of coffee mugs that do not match. I am not a fan of things that match.
I cooked this the other night. It showed up on my Pinterest board, and I thought yummy. You can find the picture and the recipe here. I recommend using real sausage. I used turkey Italian sausage. In my opinion, bratwurst would be perfect for this dish.
