Easter...

One of our favorite Easter traditions...dying eggs.  This year we did 3 dozen and only had a couple of casualties.

 We decided to get serious and go for the medical gloves.

 E was very patient and let the eggs get really bright before taking them out of the dye.  Little Miss, however, just wanted to get hers done.  It was interesting, because typically the roles would be reversed.

Little Miss was just a little excited to wear her "high heels". 

 In years past I have given E and Little Miss clues to find their Easter baskets.  This year they had to make a puzzle to see the clue on the back.

 Our first holiday with Sparkee, so, of course, he needed to be in the photo ;)

 Setting the table is my favorite.

 Our finished eggs make a pretty centerpiece.

 One more of E and Little Miss with their cousin.  Cousins are the best, aren't they?

Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life.  ~S.D. Gordon

Routine...

Happy New Year!  It's been awhile.  After a few days of a somewhat typical routine, I feel like maybe I can get back into the swing of things and get myself back to blogging.  It's good for me.  For today, Here are some of my recent phone pictures, most from the holidays.  Enjoy!

 1. my gifts 2. glittery ornaments 3. curls

4. tag making 5. gift wrapping 6. Zart, the elf

7. gift for me 8, 9. gingerbread house building

 1. house decor 2. letter to Santa 3. gifts for birthparents

4. bags for the homeless 5. old bulb makeovers 6. one of my favorites

7. cupcake liner trees 8. handmade by memere 9. reminiscing 

 1, 2, 3. more handmade goodness

4. from a former student 5. ornament to support adoption 6. teacher gifts

7. snow 8. more snow 9. friends

 1. barbie doll cirque 2. lights 3. sugar

4. gift giving 5. best presents under the tree 6. traditions

7. decorations 8. no schedule 9. gingerbread people

1. my craftiness started long ago 2. we were cute 3. child labor

4. lasalette 5. old fashioned fun 6. friends

7. before the clean up 8. my personal hairdresser 9. after the clean up

I've also been having some fun with the new Flipagram App.  

Check out my video here.

If you're on Instagram, find abetterdream and follow me. 

Happy Weekend to you all!

The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.

Mike Murdock

'Tis the season...

Our halls our decked.

  

With my surgery scheduled last week, I got started early and tried to get most of our decorating done.  These are a few recent pictures from my cell phone.

 Thrill of Hope Print found Here.

 My memere handmade these little houses years ago.   I'm pretty sure some of my yearning for creativity came from her.

 Personalized Photo Puzzle found here.

 Memory Game found here.

“Christmas! 'Tis the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial fire of charity in the heart” -Washington Irving

DIY: Large "Bottle cap" magnets

I can't walk into Target without stopping at the dollar bins.  I found these bottle cap coasters a few weeks ago and grabbed several packages (I think there were 6 in a package for $3.00)  I wasn't sure what I was going to do with them, but I bought them anyway.  

I decided to turn them into magnets.  A little paint, a piece of scrapbook paper, a photo, some washi tape and magnets and I had myself an adorable new magnet.  The last photo shows the comparison with a typical sized bottle cap...these things are big!

I decided to have the kids each decorate one for their daddy for Father's Day.  It's a handmade gift and it was quick, even better!   (sorry for the terrible photos)

The possibilities for these lovely "coasters" are endless.  I suppose you could actually use them as a tacky place to rest your beer, but why would you want to do that? I think I'm going to try making a wind chime with them next.  I'll let you know how that goes.

Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can't try to do things. You simply must do things.

Ray Bradbury

Valentine's Day...

Yes, I know, a new Valentine's Blog Banner 4 days after Valentine's...who says you can't celebrate love everyday?

I hope you all had a lovely day yesterday Thursday (I started this post on Friday and never finished it).  Life gets a little crazy sometimes.

Here is some of our Valentine's Day in pictures.

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. 

Lao Tzu 

I've used this quote before.  I've always thought it perfectly described the relationship between my children and their birthparents.  This past year, however, I personally feel as though I have lived this quote.

 

Manic...

I know I'm starting to feel more like myself again because I have been a bit manic around here, doing various projects and cleaning, much like my typical personality and behavior.  I'm baaaaaacck!

One of my most recent projects was a canvas with our family rules posted on it.  I've been wanting to make one for a while, but haven't had the energy.  There are many ready made family rules signs available online and in stores, but there always seemed to be something that didn't quite fit our family.  When you make your own, you can customize it to fit perfectly.  I compiled a list of rules from signs I saw and then got to work. 

Place stickers 

Paint

and Peel 

Super Easy.  I'm not one for making things perfectly straight.  I'm too impatient for that.  My letters are a little wonky....perfect for us...wonky and imperfect. 

I added antiquing medium to to make it look a little old and warn. 

You could modify this project and make fun Christmas Canvases for gifts using holiday words....JOY, BLESSINGS, FAITH, WINTER, SNOW, ANGEL, etc...the possibilities are endless. 

I hung our rules and then added other things from around my house.  

This frame from Michael's seemed like the perfect finishing touch after it was painted in a shade of red.

Our new wall makes me happy when I look at it.  

The manic end of is a lot of fun. Carrie Fisher